Executive Director of the Retirement Office, Luatua Filisouoaiga Taafua said that only three members of the board attended the annual Retirement meeting this year held in Chicago, as Senator Magalei Logovi’i did not attend due to a medical checkup.

Luatua told Samoa News yesterday that Magalei earlier this month returned the $9,000 check and that money has been deposited back into the Retirement Account.

In early April the Director confirmed that Aleki Sene Sr, Magalei, Faoa Aitofele Sunia and the newest member of the Board, Toafala Iafeta, had each received a $9,000 check for this specific trip — for airfare, meals and accommodations. This is the check that Magalei has returned.

Asked if Governor Lolo Matalasi Moliga has responded to his letter, where Luatua informed Lolo that he has no authority to give instructions to the Retirement Director (who answers only to the Retirement Board), the director told Samoa News, “No, the governor has yet to respond and nothing new aside from the previous correspondence.”

Lolo had moved to appoint Sonny Thompson as interim board chair, however Luatua said that will not happen, as the board selects and votes for its own chair person from among its confirmed members.

Asked if orientation for the new confirmed members has been completed, Luatua said Beaver Ho Ching has undergone his orientation, while the other members, Sonny Thompson and Maaelopa Tuiasosopo have yet to go through theirs.

Magalei and Sene were both rejected by the Fono last month as ‘new’ retirement board members. However, as they are both ‘old’ members of the board, they continue to serve until replaced..