Samoa Police Commissioner, Papalii Lorenese Neru, began giving evidence, or, testimony, before the Commission of Inquiry in Samoa last Friday Nov. 15, 2008, which continued yesterday and is likely to continue for another day at least, reports Samoalive.

The inquiry in Samoa probes the alleged smuggling of guns from American Samoa to Samoa on-board the Samoa police patrol boat MV Nafanua. The guns were allegedly transported on the Nafanua during the 2008 Flag Day festivities, when the Samoa police attended the Flag Day as guests and performers.

Local police detective John Cendrowski, who conducted an investigation into the alleged guns smuggling that reached Samoa earlier this year, testified before the Samoa gun inquiry last month.

In the press release from the inquiry, provided to Samoalive by Samoa’s Office of the Attorney General — it says the Samoa Commissioner, Neru, alleges he received a ‘faamomoli’ (package) from former American Samoa Police Captain Papalii Marion Fitisemanu. He said that when he discovered the package contained firearms it “shocked” him.

(Former police captain Papali’i Marion Fitisemanu was fined $1,000 by the High Court on Tuesday in the weapons case brought against him by the American Samoa Government.

Chief Justice F. Michael Kruse scolded the government during sentencing. The court felt the case — which began with five counts of embezzlement and one count of unlawful possession of a unregistered firearm — should not have been filed in the first place.

Under a plea agreement with the government, Papali’i pleaded guilty to the lesser charge and the embezzlement charges were dismissed. The former police captain received a fine and no jail time.)

Neru claims he had asked Fitisemanu about guns, but specifically an ‘under and over’ shotgun for sporting events. Neru alleges he did not ask for or want the guns that were in the package from Fitisemanu and he claimed he had been set up.

Neru told the Commission he picked up the package from Samoa Police Captain Filipo and opened it on April 29.

Neru says that on April 29, he asked Captain Filipo whether he knew what was in the package and the Captain said no.

He claims he asked Filipo whether there were any clearance papers from American Samoa for the guns and Filipo said no.

The guns were reported to the Samoa Attorney General on June 16, said Neru and he met with the Attorney General and the Prime Minister on June 17 about the matter. On the same date the Attorney General commenced a special investigation into the matter.

From April 29 until about mid-May 2008, Neru kept the guns at his home inside a black golf bag and said he kept the guns locked inside a cabinet.

In mid-May the Commissioner gave the bag to Corporal Kapeli Faalogo and asked him to put the bag in the Police armory for safekeeping, Neru claims.

He testified that on May 12 he called Department of Public Safety Acting Commissioner Filifaatali Mike Fuiava in American Samoa, reported the guns to him and asked him to take the guns back. When speaking to Filifaatali, he alleged he had been set up.

On May 29, two officers from American Samoa came to Samoa to take the guns back.

Neru gave testimony that he was overwhelmed and didn’t know who to trust and this is why he did not tell anyone about the guns until he reported the matter to Filifaatali on May 12, and the Attorney General of Samoa on June 16.

Neru stated that he knew the guns were illegal because there was no importation permit for the guns and one of the guns cannot be registered in Samoa (the pistol) and it weighed heavily upon him.

During his testimony the Neru mentioned that Police Services is considering having a gun amnesty next year.

He also mentioned that he would like Police Services to have sniffer dogs that are trained to smell guns/ammunition.

Neru testified that he had had discussions with Filifaatali from American Samoa about having a ‘sootaga’ (joint effort) between the two Police Services.

The Commission continues its hearing today at 10 a.m. at the Oloamanu Center NUS Campus with cross examination by assisting counsel.