However, Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, who is also the police minister, says Fuiavailili Egon Keil made it by an inch of his index finger.
Tuilaepa says Fuiavailili, who is originally from the United States, was chosen ahead of three other applicants for a post he's held for the past three years.
Those three years have been marred by controversy -- not least his arrest on dozens of charges of gun possession, intimidation and an attempt to procure, incite and counsel murder.
