Kite Runner should have been locked up says American Samoa Senate President

By Staff Reporters

Apia, Samoa – 11 October 2023:  The President of the American Samoa Senate, Tuaolo Manaia Fruean insists that the Kite Runner that left the territory without proper clearance papers and entered Samoan waters in late April this year, should have been locked up and investigated.

Speaking to the media in Apia where he is part of the American Samoa delegation attending the Atoa o Samoa Talks and the ground breaking for the American Samoa government office at Moata’a on Tuesday, the straight shooting Senator said he does not tolerate illegal activities.

Heading the Senate Select Investigative Committee investigation into the incident, he made headlines with his questioning of a government official who had a part in granting the Kite Runner questionable clearance and the events surrounding its trip to and from Samoa.

In response to the media queries for an update on the Senate investigation, Tuaolo said he does not accept and is not happy about such activities.

The Kite Runner is owned by businessman and President of the Paramount Builders company in American Samoa, Papalii Laulii Alofa.

“The investigation is not over yet and we will hear the Kite Runner captain’s testimony when we return home,” said Tuaolo,

The captain was supposed to testify before the Commission of Inquiry last Friday, but is currently sailing to Manu’a and Tokelau.

“We will interview him when he returns,” said Tuaolo.

The boat and crew should have been locked up
Tuaolo insists the Kite Runner did not have any legal documents to clear their trip out of American Samoa.

He said this came out in one of the Customs Officers’ testimony.

“Last Friday we interviewed the Deputy Customs Officer who confirmed that it was him that issued the clearance certificate,” said Tuaolo.

Under questioning on how such a certificate was issued when he had not seen the boat, Tuaolo said the Officer explained that someone called him to issue it.

The Kite Runner/Facebook Image

“I do not interfere with how Samoa conduct their matters, but if I was the Prime Minister, I would lock the boat and all the crew members when no documentation was provided,” said Tuaolo.

“What if the boat was carrying illegal stuff?” he asked.

“What if it was carrying someone infected with a deadly disease or terrorist?

“These are the things we must consider and must be very cautious about,” he said.

He said the reality of what happened was a risk and although he does not know the sequence of events that happened during and when the boat arrived in Apia, he believes the authorities in Upolu could either deny entrance or have all the crew locked up.

“If I held such a position within the Customs office and Upolu called regarding the illegal entrance of the boat, I would tell Upolu to do what they wish or even lock them all up,” explained Tuaolo.

To highlight his point, Tuaolo referred to a previous Lady Naomi’s trip from Upolu to American Samoa where none of the passengers were allowed on to American Samoa soil because they did not have the proper documents.

Lady Naomi returned to Apia with her passengers.

“That should have been the same stance taken when the Kite Runner entered Samoa without proper documents,” he emphasized.

Recommendation to charge three officials
Other than the Senate investigation, the American Samoa Department of Homeland Security (ASDHS) conducted its own investigation into the Kite Runner’s incident and recommended to charge three officials involved.

The investigation confirmed the certificate of clearance (COC) for the Kite Runner in the territory was on hold at that time, but the boat left for Samoan waters in April this year without proper clearance.

The report revealed there were three people on the boat when it left American Samoa for Samoa, and it took an extra passenger when it returned to the U.S. territory.

The report recommends that two ASG employees who signed after the fact clearances for the vessel be charged. It also recommends that the individual who requested the late clearance for the vessel be prosecuted.

Samoan officials helped clear Kite Runners illegal entrance
The boat entered Apia illegally in late April 2023, picked up documents from the Customs office in Apia then travelled to Mulifanua wharf where they picked up more cargo before heading to the Salelologa wharf.

By the time the alert was raised and police arrived at Salelologa wharf, the boat’s cargo had already been released.

The Ministry of Works said at the time they were only to inspect boats at the Matautu wharf and that the Kite Runner was a “pleasure boat” meaning it was not to dock on land and subject to inspection.

An investigation by the Samoan government after the fact had the Prime Minister saying that boat should have been detained and investigated, but it was too late as the boat had been and gone already.

Deputy Customs officer apologized
Tuaolo said the Deputy Customs Officer who made the call for the Kite Runner to leave American Samoa had apologised, but was told not to because they should have followed the law.

One of the issues of major concern for Tuaolo is the possibility of using such boats entering any country without proper documentation for drug trafficking which is already a major concern in American Samoa and neighbouring islands such as Samoa and Tonga.

“What if that boat is bringing in drugs? We need to put an end to this drug problem and secure a safe future for our people and country,” he said.

Their investigation into the Kite Runner continues and authority given to the American Samoa Senate to conduct such investigation ends in December 2024.