“Minister Afamasaga Rico Tupa’i should be investigated” says Businessman Graham Liao

Australian businessman Graham Douglas Liao with Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, Afamasaga Rico Tupai and Cabinet Ministers and spouses at dinner at the Tradition Hotel. Photo/Supplied.

By Lagi Keresoma

APIA, SAMOA – 19 MARCH 2021: The Australian businessman, Graham Douglas Liao is continuing to reveal more sensitive information and documents about his dealings with the Samoan government through the Minister of Communications, Afamasaga Lepuiai Rico Tupai.

He sent out further information today titled “Further picture’s regarding: The truth about why I left Samoa and my dealings with Government.”

He said he will “soon be releasing recordings and video of my meetings with Rico and the Prime Minister.” He also claims there is more evidence and recordings that show the way that the Minister gets money for him and his Ministry (MCIT).

He also names other people “that Rico had me give money to.”

Affidavit
Liao had widely circulated his signed affidavit dated 13 March 2021 with signed documents backing his claims about the Minister asking him for and receiving money. At the same time, the Minister was on government business dealing with a business to set up a call centre that the Minister was promoting to employ over 100 Samoans.

Liao had other business interests and he had met and was entertained by the Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi and his Cabinet Ministers.

The Prime Minister with Graham Liao and his wife at where the call center was supposed to be based at Vaivase.

In response to Talamua’s questions, Liao said “there is more information that can be provided but I believe there needs to be an independent inquiry and I hope that the information that I have already provided can make this happen as a smear campaign does not give me any integrity it just makes me no better than him (Minister Rico) in the way he has used my personal information to make myself look bad in an attempt to cover up his wrong doings.”

Graham Liao and his dog, former MCIT CEO Leali’ie’e Ah Samu and Minister Afamasaga Rico at Liao’s house in the Gold Coast on a fact finding mission on Liao’s company.

His dealings were with the Minister who travelled to check out Liao’s business in Australia and Singapore.

Liao first came to Samoa in relation to setting up a freight company and when he was here, he spoke to the Prime Minister about his company setting up a call centre in the Philippines. The Prime Minister then advised that 100 Samoans had done a training program with the UN and already trained and he then had the Minister in contact.

“I later found out that they were not trained for call centre activities and it was just a computer education program to learn about using software etc..” said Liao.

The Prime Minister, Minister Afamasaga Rico and Graham Liao at the call center which fell through as it was not granted a lease.

Liao admits to his youth conviction
“The Prime Minister and Minister Rico new about my youth and Rico discussed this with me at my house in front of a well-respected person in the medical field at a meeting at my house and office which were legally recorded on video,” he old Talamua.

“I did things that I wish I had not, but they were in my youth and yes there are stories on the internet that make me look bad, but there are no stories about the matters being found to be made by a disgruntled staff member, there has been no statement or retraction made about a story of me taking money from investors that was annulled.”

When his business in Samoa did not take off, the local media published articles about Liao’s background and the deals with the Samoan Government representative, the Minister of Communication Information and Technology (MCIT) Afamasaga Rico Lepuiai Tupai.

Liao claimed these articles defamed him and that Afamasaga was more involved in the negotiations on a personal level rather than his capacity as a Government representative.

Liao’s affidavit  explains his dealings with Afamasaga and how he was used to transfer funds to the Minister’s account, but did not sign the lease agreement for the land use by the business.

Walking Graham’s dog in the Gold Coast.

“After a few months, I was put in a position to provide cash and electronic payments to the Minister Afamasaga Rico Tupai and provide for individuals as directed by the Minister,” said Liao.

Liao said he paid more than AUT$90,000.00 to Afamasaga and other parties.

“I also provided gifts as requested by the Minister and was informed that to get support, people needed to feel valuable and that gift giving was customary,” said Liao.

Liao said at one stage, Afamasaga was in need of money desperately and asked for AUT$20,000.

“The Minister also had me give his daughter AUT$20,000 over six months and in his words, so she could make payments on his behalf,” said Liao.

Liao also mentioned in his affidavit that he guaranteed Afamasaga’s request for a loan.

“I was also asked by the Minister to be guarantor for a loan and to assist the Minister in obtaining an overdraft for his rugby team,” said Liao.

Government shareholding interest
Liao had several meetings with Afamasaga before he was invited to dinner by the Prime Minister Tuilaepa at the Tradition Hotel at Ululoloa which was attended by other Cabinet ministers.

He was again invited to breakfast with Tuilaepa where the issue of the Samoa National Provident Fund (SNPF) as a shareholder of PEEQ was discussed.

All along, Liao and his business partners told Government they need no financial assistance locally.

“In closing I feel used, and I regret letting this go on for so long without reply and that it allowed others to use information to make myself look bad and cover up their wrong doings,” said Liao.

Minister Afamasaga rejects claims
The Minister has rejected the claims as incorrect and that he is putting together his documentation to prove Liao’s claims as wrong.

He also asked Talamua to give him time. But he had since responded to the media regarding Graham Liao’s claims.