Samoa’s Assistant CEO of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forests is reported to have been arrested and charged with assault.
Samoa Observer reports that Lupeomanu Pelenato Fonoti was arrested last Saturday and faces one count of assault.
When approached by the newspaper the ACEO had denied assaulting businessman and farmer, Papalii Panoa Tavita Moala.
But Papalii confirmed the incident and said it happened during a meeting of a Pesticide Technical Committee meeting at the Quarantine office which was chaired by MAF CEO Tilafono David Hunter.
Lupeomanu, who was later released on bail, heads the quarantine division of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries.
He is scheduled to appear in the District Court for hearing of the charge against him on September 10.
