Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The Kite Runner saga continued yesterday morning with more contradictions by captain of the vessel, Faiai Loleni Faiai, further frustrating members of the Senate Select Investigative Committee (SSIC).

At the beginning of the hearing after Faiai had been sworn in, SSIC Chairman Togiola T.A. Tulafono explained to Faiai that the reason he has been re-summoned, was because Kite Runner owner Papalii Laulii Alofa and Tish Peau (who works part-time for Paramount) have rejected his testimony that there had been a boat log.

Togiola said that according to their testimonies, the Kite Runner has no log and none has ever existed, which contradicts his statement that he had written all the information pertaining to their return trip/ round trip to Samoa, and that he had left the log on the boat.

Faiai however stuck to his earlier testimony that there had been a log that he used on the boat and he had left it there when he left the boat.

He told the hearing that Papalii had also enquired about the log and he told him that the log was on the boat when he left.

The captain also asked the individual who maintains the boat and had been informed that there was nothing on the boat. Faiai clarified that the information written in the log pertained solely on the trip to Samoa.

Togiola asked if the log had been there when he boarded the boat or did he take it onboard.

Faiai replied that it was a book he had taken with him on the trip for the sole purpose of recording all the information of their return trip.

He also pointed out that he had written down all the information stated in the documents from various government departments and agencies giving approval and clearance for them to embark on the trip.

The Kite Runner captain also suggested that the SSIC re-summon all of them (Faiai, Papalii and Tish Peau) so that committee members can find out once for all who was lying and who was telling the truth.

Committee Chairman Togiola expressed his support of his suggestion and stated that the committee will discuss the matter further and finalize a date.

The SIC hearings have been closed to the public and the press, but was open to the press for yesterday’s hearing.

Samoa News will publish more on the SIC hearing in the coming week.