Monday 21 June 2021, Apia Samoa. The Samoa Police have called for information on a white van suspected to be involved in the hit and run that killed 18 year old Tuuau Faasavalu in Vaitele on the night of the 21st of April 2021.
Video footage from a security camera of the van was released by Police who say they are still trying to confirm its brand, “which may appear to be a Nissan Elgrand Van, Nissan Delica Van or a Toyota Toyoace Van”.
Anyone who may have seen this van on the night of the accident in the vicinity of Maali Road Vaitele, just down from the LDS Church on top of the Maota Samoa hill at Vaitele, is asked to please contact Police.
Police are also concerned with the number of rumors on social media about the incident. Social media has become flooded with posts alleging the involvement of elected Members of Parliament from the two parties currently at the centre of Samoa’s political stand-off.
The police have issued a warning to those spreading false information.
“The public is hereby advised that the spread of misinformation (hearsay) on social media is hindering the progress of this investigation”.
“As of now, all information that has been relayed to police have already been looked into and verified” reads the police statement.
As reported by Samoa Global News at the time of the incident, the young man’s body was found on the side of the road after an unidentified vehicle hit and dragged him along the road causing severe injuries that led to his death.
The parents of the NUS Diploma in Tourism student are still trying to come to terms with the loss of their boy, who would have turned 19 a few days after his death, his birthday being the 24th of April.
“I’ve lost my appetite and I have not been able to eat since what happened,” said his devastated father at the time.
The Samoa Police Prisons and Correctional Services Public Notice is published below:
HIT AND RUN – MAALI STREET VAITELE ON 21 APRIL 2021
Samoa Police, Prisons and Corrections Services (SPPCS) wishes to inform the public that since the hit and run incident at Maali Street, Vaitele on 21 April 2021, the Police have conducted interviews with numerous witnesses to determine any leads that may assist with the identification of the driver and vehicle involved in this incident which resulted in the death of a young male name Tuuau Maletino. To date, SPPCS has yet to attain any credible information that may assist with locating the driver and vehicle involved.
Further to police investigations, we seek the assistance of the public for any information on this white van (photo attached) that Police are still trying to confirm its brand which may appear to be a Nissan Elgrand Van, Nissan Delica Van or a Toyota Toyoace Van. Police are also seeking for anyone who may have seen this vehicle on the night of the accident not far from the scene to please contact Traffic Section on telephone 26712 or 22222 ext. 104 or by email info@police.gov.ws.
The public is hereby advised that the spread of misinformation (hearsay) on social media is hindering the progress of this investigation. As of now, all information that has been relayed to police have already been looked into and verified.
Working together for a Safer Samoa!
TALOSAGA MO NI FA’AMATALAGA ILE MATAUPU FA’ALAVELAVE TAU TAAVALE I VAITELE I LE ASO 21 APERILA 2021
Mo le silafia e le mamalu o le atunuu, o loo galulue pea le Matagaluega o Leoleo, Falepuipui ma le Toefuataiga talu mai le aso 21 Aperila 2021 na tula’i mai ai lenei faalavelave, e tau sailia e ala i le fa’atalatalanoaina o molimau sa tuuina mai mo se tasi sa tauaveina le taavale lea sa tulai mai ai le fa’alavelave i le Maali Street i Vaitele. E oo mai i le asō, e leai lava se fa’amatalaga maumaututu e mafai ai ona fa’amaonia se taavale poo se tasi na ia tauaveina se taavale lea sa tula’i mai ai se fa’alavelave e pei ona aafia ai le alii talavou ia Tuuau Maletino.
O nisi o fa’amatalaga ua tuuina mai i suesuega, e talosagaina ai le fesoasoani a le mamalu o le atunuu mo se tasi na te silafiaina se taavale o le ituaiga o le Nissan Elgrand Van, Nissan Delica Van poo le Toyota Toyoace Van lanu paepae, poo se tasi foi sa ia vaaia lea ituaiga taavale i se vaega e le mamao ese mai ma le vaega sa tulai mai ai lenei fa’alavelave ina ia logo mai le Ofisa o Taavale Afi i le telefoni 26712 poo le telefoni 22222 laina 104 poo le imeli info@police.gov.ws.
E fautuaina foi le mamalu o le atunuu, o le tele o fa’amatalaga lē fa’amaonia o loo fa’apea ona tuuina i luga o upega tafa’ilagi o loo lepetia ai le fa’amautuina o molimau moni o lenei mataupu. O fa’amatalaga uma foi ua fa’aooina mai i le Matagaluega ua maea ona fa’atino iai suesuega masani.
Galulue Fa’atasi mo se Samoa Saogalemu!
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