The Attorney General's Office is still reviewing a Police file on a 2021 hit-and-run incident that claimed the life of an 18-year-old university student.

Samoa's Attorney General, Su'a Hellene Wallwork-Lamb gave an update on the progress that her office was making on the case in response to questions from the Samoa Observer. 

She said her Office is reviewing the file so they can prepare legal advice for the Cabinet's consideration. 

"It's quite a big file and there's a lot of statements from witnesses and we need to go through the file before we can prepare advice for Cabinet," said Su'a. 

Asked whether they've sought assistance from a foreign law enforcement agency to investigate the matter, as mentioned by the Deputy Prime Minister, Tuala Iosefo Ponifasio in a recent interview with this newspaper. 

Su'a said: "I have made contact with the New Zealand Pacific Liaison Police Officer, and that will all be included in a report and advice we will be giving to Cabinet."

Cabinet convened a special meeting two weeks ago where they discussed the April 2021 incident at Vaitele-fou, when the lifeless body of National University of Samoa (N.U.S.) student Tuuau Faasavalu was discovered on the roadside, with Samoa's Police unable to make any breakthroughs in their investigations to date.

Tuala – who was the Acting Prime Minister at the time – said he met with the Police Commissioner Auapa'au Logoitino Filipo so he could get an update on the case. He said the Cabinet understands that the matter is sensitive and people are still waiting for an update.

He added that the case and the reports surrounding it have laid bare the integrity of the various government ministries and it is only proper that the Cabinet addresses the issue. He noted that the accident was a tragedy that claimed the life of a young boy and over two years later there has been no solid evidence or closure for the family who lost their loved one. 

The Deputy Prime Minister then reminded the nation that one of the core functions of the Ministry of Police is to maintain the peace and safety of the people of Samoa as well as enforce the laws and charge those who have broken the laws of the land. He said for any case investigated by Police, there needs to be enough solid evidence to prove any statements made about a case, and there should be no doubt before they hand it over to the courts.