Escaped convict Chong Nee slips police once again

by Lagi Keresoma

APIA, SAMOA – 22 FEBRUARY 2022: After 3 years since Pati Chong Nee escaped from the Tafa’igata prison, the police again failed to capture him during a major search operation on dense forest and difficult terrain close to Lake Lanoto’o two weeks ago.

Acting Police Commissioner, Afamasaga Samuelu Afanasaga confirmed that preparation for the search took 3 days before it was executed and took a whole day.

The search was based on information collected by police intel that Pati was seen around Afiamalu and Lanoto’o area recently.

“It is not that the police search was unsuccessful, but every information passed on to us about Pati’s sighting, we analyse before executing a search party,” said Afamasaga.

It’s been 3 years since Pati and another inmate escaped from what was the Tafa’igata prison. The inmate has since been recaptured and is serving time at the Tanumalala prison.

There have been so many sightings of Pati from various areas around the country but every time the police arrived, he had already left.

The police suspect that someone inside was feeding him information.

Afamasaga again asked for the public’s support in providing information that the police use for its surveillance work to ensure the public’s safety.