The C.E.O. of the Samoa Sports Facilities Authority, Moefa'auo Salale Moananu has been charged with assault by the Police in relation to an incident last Saturday.

Police Commissioner Auapa'au Logoitino Filipo confirmed the charge and said the C.E.O. will appear in court on 26 July for criminal mention and added that there could be additional charges.

The charges are in connection to an incident on Saturday 2 July where Moefa'auo got into a dispute with a police officer, after he overtook a vehicle that the policeman was driving.

Auapa'au said that there were reports that the Government vehicle that Moefa'auo was driving was speeding. 

"The report we got was that the policeman then chased the car driven by the C.E.O. and advised him of his driving,” the Police Commissioner said. 

"This irked the C.E.O. who then chased off the policeman's car and then allegedly assaulted him."

It is also alleged that the C.E.O. was armed with a dangerous weapon (firearm) and also allegedly threatened the police officer who was with his wife at the time of the incident. 

When contacted by the Samoa Observer on Thursday for a comment, Moefa'auo immediately hung up his phone after he found out it was a call from this newspaper.

Auapa'au confirmed that the driver has also filed a complaint as a result of the dispute and Moefa'auo was then charged and is out on bail. 

Having run the authority since 2011, Moefa'auo has served the Government for over 30 years, namely at the Audit Office and Samoa Land Corporation as well as stints in the private sector.