It has been 41 days, approximately five weeks and six days, since Samoa Police Sergeant Evile Paulo Ekueni died after falling overboard during a maritime coastal patrol, yet authorities have not released details about his death.

Prime Minister Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Schmidt stated a week after his death that he had ordered an investigation and the outcome will be known soon. It was also revealed that Sgt. Ekueni was not wearing a lifejacket.

Sgt. Ekueni drowned after falling overboard from a semi-inflatable police patrol boat off the coast of Utualii on Tuesday, 3 February. His body was recovered the following day after an extensive search.

When contacted by the Samoa Observer, Acting Police Commissioner Leiataua Samuelu Afamasaga said inquiries were still ongoing but declined to comment further.

He asked that questions be submitted through email. Previous emails sent to Leiataua remain unanswered.

It was also revealed that Leiataua was not informed of a patrol. Sgt Ekueni was part of the Nafanua crew.

La'aulialemalietoa said the captain of the Nafanua III did not inform the acting commissioner of police that a patrol would be conducted on the day of the incident.

"As I've said before, when the incident occurred, the police officer who drowned did not have a life jacket on him," he said in his press conference a week after the drowning.

"The captain of the Nafanua did not inform his superiors that a patrol would be conducted despite the bad weather.

"The government has lost an asset just because of the lack of communication and not going through the process within the Ministry of Police."