REPS INTRODUCE BILL TO CURTAIL WHITE COLLAR CRIME 

Reps Larry Sanitoa and Vailoata Amituana’i are co sponsoring a bill that criminalizes the falsifying of business records, tampering with government records and lowers the penalty for offering a false instrument for filing. This bill is now with the Legal Affairs Committee chaired by Tualauta Rep Vui Florence Tuaumu Saulo.

According to the bill in the effort to curtail the rising number of fraud and abuse cases in the territory, the Fono proposes to create and amend statutes to encompass, not only those unscrupulous acts committed against the government but all those who are impacted and suffer from the heartless acts of pilfering criminals.

“The legislature is cognizant and greatly concerned with the sharp escalation of fraud and stealing in the private sector. Even more troubling is the effect this has on consumers as losses from fraud are almost always passed down to the public.”

“It is prudent for the government to provide recourse and relief to the territory as the problem is nearing a point of crisis,” they contend.

The bill further notes that due to the urgent need to better address the problems of stealing, fraud and embezzlement in both public and private sectors, this bill shall become effective immediately upon passage by the Fono and approval of the governor.

The bill says that 46.4130, which is “Offering a flase instrument for filing”, is amended from a Class C to a Class A misdemeanor.

A new section is also created: 46.4131: Tampering with public records: when a person knowing that he does not have authority of anyone entitled to do so, knowingly and willfully removes, mutilates, destroys, conceals, makes a false entry in or falsely alters any records, or other written instrument, filed with, deposited in or otherwise constituting a record kept or issued by any government office or its agents. Tampering with public records is a Class D felony.

A similar section is created by the bill on falsifying business records.

SENATE AND HOUSE HONOR FORMER JUDGE AND HIGH CHIEF IN RESOLUTION

The Senate and House passed similar versions of a Concurrent Resolution conveying the Fono’s deepest condolences to Mrs Salamina Ofisa Galea’i Tauanu’u on the passing of High Chief Tauanu’u Faisiota Tauanu’u and pays tribute to his dedicated and faithful service to his family, village district and the people of American Samoa.

The resolution says that Tauanu’u was born on November 10, 1932 to his parents, Iotamo and Lusia Fa’asi’u Tauanu’u from Se’etaga. He attended Se’etaga Elementary and Leone Catholic Brother’s school and attended the High School of American Samoa, the teacher’s training school and then ASCC.

Upon graduating from college he taught at Fagalele Elementary and then moved to Hawai’i and worked for Hawai’i Packing and Crating Company for a few years until he joined the US Army. In 1964 he was bestowed the title Tauanu’u, and after six years of working in the Panama Canal Operations for the Army, Taunu’u left the Army to work on contract for Gulf Oil Company of California and after four years he returned home. In 1976 he was elected into the House of Representatives and in 1978 he was reelected, however his tenure ended when he was appointed as an Associate Judge.

At the age of 71 Tauanu’u desired to represent the people of his district in the Senate. Armed with a strong working mind, affable personalty and that irresistible smile, Tauanu’u Faisiota was sworn in as Senator in 2003. Tauanuu passed away at the age of 82 last month and is survived by his wife and 18 children, 53 grandchildren, 32 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.The resolution says the children knew their father as a quiet, humble and cheerful man who’s passionate about his church, family, village and his District of Alataua.

AG NOMINATED FOR ASEDA

Governor Lolo Matalasi Moliga has nominated Attorney General Talauega Eleasalo Ale as a board member to the American Samoa Economic Development Authority (ASEDA) that was reconstituted in late 2013.

In a letter to the Fono, Lolo noted that included in its membership was the former AG and now Senator Afoa L Su’esu’e Lutu. “Because I believe it’s important the AG’s office be represented on the ASEDA board, I have conferred with Senator Afoa on the matter and he has graciously submitted his resignation in order to relinquish his seat on the board.”