The Senate Select Investigative Committee has been handed a report compiled by Treasury relating to the transfer of $4.4 million from an ASG bank account to the Wells Fargo Bank.
The report contains documentation, copies of emails, copies of checks, correspondence with the LBJ Hospital and paperwork relating to the transfer.
As we’ve previously reported, the $4.4 million was transferred from an ASG account with the Territorial Bank of American Samoa based on what was later discovered to be a fake email purporting to be a resolution approved by the Board of the LBJ Hospital.
The Senate approved a resolution to have the SSIC investigate the transfer and a hearing Friday morning was to question Treasurer Malemo Tausaga and staff.
The Treasurer was accompanied to the hearing by Deputy Treasurer Levi Reese, Chief Accountant Carrie Lee Magalei and another accountant Akenese.
The Treasurer said that he was off island when the transfer took place, but Deputy Treasurer Reese was in charge. SSIC Chairman Sen. Togiola Tulafono asked if his office carried out an investigation, Malemo said yes. Asked if there was a report of the investigation, the Treasurer replied no.
The report that was given to the SSIC on Friday is said to contain all correspondence and documentation relating to the transfer.
According to Chief Accountant Magalei, she and her staff were the first to identify the fraudulent transfer and they acted on it with the Deputy Treasurer.
Togiola said the committee would like time to go through the report from Treasury so they can be better prepared with questions for the witnesses.
The SSIC will question the Treasury officials next Wednesday.
At previous hearings, the Treasurer said the total amount that was transferred was $4,474,207.09. ASG has received back from Wells Fargo, $4,373,997.02 leaving a balance of $100,210.07 yet to be returned.
The Treasurer has said they are working with the Federal Bureau of Investigations to recover the remaining amount.
