Tanumalala Prison

This week the Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi announced the prisons would return to the portfoilo of the Ministry of Police after a mass breakout from the multi-million dollar Tanumalala facility.

Now the Samoa Observer newspaper reports Assistant CEO for the Programme Development Service Unit, Maiava Vi'iga Fuimaono, was sacked on Friday in a move Commissioner Fuiavailili Egon Keil has called "part of changes that we're making at the prison".

Aniseko Vaelei is being tried in relation to offences allegedly committed after he escaped.

But he has complained about the food in prison and a lack of access to showers, prompting the presiding judge, Justice Leiataualesa Darrel Clarke, to tell him he could file formal complaints with both police and prison authorities.

The inmate is currently serving a jail term on other criminal charges.

The two escapees namely Lauitiiti Tualima and Aniseko Vaelei are both considered dangerous and not to be approached by members of the public. Both prisoners have previously been convicted on charges of Rape, Burglary and Theft, Robbery and Escape from Prison.

We kindly ask members of the public to contact SPS directly on phone number 22222 or contact any nearest Police Station if you have any information of their whereabouts.

Samoa Police Service wishes to thank members of the public for their ongoing assistance.