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Samoa police spokesman apologizes to Rugby Union for ‘fake news’

joyetter@samoanews.com

Apia, SAMOA — Samoa’s Police Spokesperson, Su’a LeMamea Tiumalu has issued an apology to the Samoa Rugby Union regarding the “wrong information” that was announced during last week’s press conference, however he noted that the information was given to him by their Criminal Investigation Division (CID). The apology was made during this week’s press conference.

This is in connection with the rape of a ‘palagi’ woman at the SRU compound who is a volunteer in Samoa, by a man the police claimed is a referee with the SRU.

Initially Su’a stated that the victim was an SRU volunteer, while this week, he says that he didn’t say that, Samoa News stands by our story.

Last week Su’a stated the “palagi” couple were out in the evening and were both highly intoxicated when they returned to the Samoa Rugby Union compound where the victim lives as she’s a volunteer for the SRU.  Chief Executive Officer of Samoa Rugby Union, Faleomavaega Vincent Fepuleai disputed this information noting the“girl” in question has no affiliation with the SRU, the “volunteer” as indicated by the police does not volunteer with the SRU. “She’s a friend of one of our trainers, but she doesn’t work or live at the SRU compound.” He expressed his disappointment with how the “wrong information” was disseminated by the police where information released shouldn't be disputed.

During the press conference this week, Su’a apologized and noted that he was giving out the information provided to him by the investigators — namely CID.

Another issue that was disputed by Faleomavaega was that the defendant in question was not a referee with the SRU.

During this week’s press conference, Su’a stated that upon talking with the defendant who had since been released on bail and he claims that he’s a referee with the Samoa’s Referee Association who has officiated several games in Samoa, “he’s a certified referee,” said Su’a. “Although SRU has disputed this information, the defendant has stated that he is a certified referee.”

Last week, the SRU CEO admitted to Samoa News that the incident occurred on SRU grounds and those who were supposed to secure the premises have been suspended pending an internal investigation. Meanwhile the defendant, Daniel Lugafo was mentioned in the Supreme Court on Monday and he’s charged with rape. The police have yet to finalize the charges and he’s been released out on bail.