Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Three Territorial Correctional Facility (TCF) officers have been suspended following a police investigation into an incident whereby an inmate, Nick Mataia, was allegedly beaten by other inmates last Saturday.

A source confirmed to Samoa News this week that the three TCF officers who have been suspended were working the morning shift the day of the alleged incident.

According to the source, it was discovered during the police investigation that there was communication between inmates and the three TCF officers relating to the alleged beating of Mataia.

During the investigation, police were able to confiscate several items from TCF including a cell phone belonging to one of the inmates.

While the cell phone was still in police custody, one of the three TCF officers called the inmate’s cell phone to discuss some matters pertaining to the incident. That's when the investigators were able to find out how the three TCF officers were involved in the alleged beating.

Samoa News understands that one of the inmates who assisted investigators has been transferred to the Fagatogo Central Station for safety reasons.

Sources say there is a possibility that charges will be filed against the three suspended TCF officers.

MATAIA’S CONDITION

Mataia's health is improving slowly. Following the beating last Saturday morning, he was taken to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at LBJ Hospital.

Mataia is one of the defendants in the alleged rape of two14-year-old girls.

 Samoa News has learned that he is now in the Surgical Ward, under the watch of an armed police officer.

Samoa News stopped by the Hospital yesterday to get an update on Mataia’s condition and status.

A staff member at the ICU informed Samoa News that Mataia was transferred to the Surgical Ward Tuesday, and he is slowly recovering, his health showing improvement.

No additional information could be obtained.

Samoa News visited the Surgical Ward where it was confirmed that a patient by the name of Nick Mataia was transferred over on Tuesday, and he is kept inside a high care unit. The staff member told Samoa News that they can’t allow anyone to speak to Mataia, except his wife.

Samoa News observed inside the high care unit, one police officer sitting at Mataia's bedside.

Samoa News spoke to the officer, outside of the high care unit, and when asked for a chance to enter the room, the officer said, “No, you can’t. Nobody is allowed to see him or talk to him.”

When asked by Samoa News who made the decision to stop everyone — including family members — from seeing Mataia, the officer responded, “Go to the main office where you can get the right answer to your question.”

“Why are family members not allowed to see or talk to Mataia? Are you trying to hide something from his family?” Samoa News asked the officer.

The officer quickly changed his demeanor. He answered, “We are not trying to hide anything. We just want to protect the family ... My advice: it's better for you to go to the main office.”

When asked how Mataia was doing, the officer said, “he’s a little bit better than yesterday. His health is slowly improving.”

A family member who spoke to Samoa News said their family is still trying to figure out how the incident happened, after visitation last Saturday at the TCF.

“We don’t know why the Department of Public Safety (DPS) is trying to stop our family from seeing Nick,” the family member said.

“Nick is under the government’s care, the same care that failed to protect him, which almost cost him his life.”

THE INVESTIGATION

Police investigation into the alleged beating of Mataia inside the TCF continues. Sources told Samoa News the investigation is being carried out by the DPS Vice & Narcotics Unit, not the Criminal Investigating Division (CID).

Samoa News understands that investigators have already interviewed several inmates, along with several TCF police officers who were on duty Saturday morning.

“Investigators are still trying to find the motive that led to the alleged beating, and how the inmates were able to access the key to Mataia’s cell,” the source said.

The source said the focus of the investigation is now on all TCF police officers who were working the morning shift on Saturday, Oct. 23, 2018.

“This is one of the main problems that TCF is facing right now — giving out of cell keys by several TCF guards to certain inmates,” the source claims.

According to the source, the practice is the reason why some of these types of incidents happen inside TCF, because several inmates have in their possession keys to cells, meaning they can open cells whenever they want and do whatever they wish.

Samoa News should point out that the issue of inmates having access to their own cell key was mentioned in District Court during the preliminary hearing last month of Manu Lefatia, the inmate who allegedly escaped from TCF before allegedly shooting a man in Leone.

During that hearing, the police officer who testified for the government said in court that during their investigation into Lefatia’s case, it was discovered that Lefatia had a key to his own cell.