Monday 28 July 2025, Apia Samoa. Fugitive Aleni Finau, wanted by Samoa Police for “scams” was this afternoon caught and taken to the Apia police headquarters by a Siusega businessman and his staff.
Part of the Ululoloa-Siusega community Neighbourhood Watch initiative, the businessman became suspicious when a vehicle turned into his family’s gated property in Siusega, and drove slowly around.
When he approached the vehicle and asked what they wanted – the man in the passenger seat could not give a good reason why they were there.
As they left, the businessman loaded his boys (staff) onto a truck and followed them.
The vehicle stopped and Aleni Finau got out and began to walk along an inland Siusega road.
The driver of the vehicle told the businessman he had put up a For Sale notice for his car and “this man” had called and asked to be picked up for a test drive.
The car owner said he felt afraid and grateful he hadn’t been Aleni Finau’s next victim.
The businessman and his boys followed the scammer in their truck as he walked along the inland dirt road by himself.
They stopped Aleni Finau along the road and put him into their truck.
They drove straight to the Police headquarters in Apia and turned him in.
According to the businessman, the photo of Aleni Finau on the Samoa Police Wanted Notice was fairly outdated and not even close to what the scammer actually looks like now.
“He’s older and much thinner in real life.”
“He kept saying his name was Sio. But when we got the police station, and as the boys were taking him down from the truck, I called out “Aleni” and he instinctively turned to respond to me.”
Angry with the businessman for turning him in, the fugitive uttered threatening words towards them as he was seated infront of Police to be processed and charged.
“Vaai pe lē o oe lea laa ō aku iai”.
The Ululoloa-Siusega Neighbourhood Watch businessman laughed and said jokingly that he and his boys should have given the scammer a good hiding before turning him in. (Joking not joking 😂)
Deputy Police Commissioner Papalii Monalisa Tiai-Keti has confirmed Aleni Finau is now in custody.
He has been charged with various scams including placing orders with caterers and restaurants, and asking fot orders to be delivered while pretending to be prominent business owners on WhatsApp.
Home and business owners in the Ululoloa-Siusega area have a Neighborhood Watch initiative where residents communicate closely with each other on a Group Chat.
“We send out warnings and alerts about any suspicious activities or persons lurking around the neighbourhood..”
In June this year, notorious prison escapee, burglar and rapist, Lauitiiti Tualima was captured in Ululoloa in an operation led by Deputy Commissioner Leiataua Samuelu Afamasaga.
“We’re just happy this scammer is now behind bars. We hope Police will charge him to the full extent of the Law..”
Vacancies
