Police Investigative Officer confirms difference in complainant’s signature

By Lagi Keresoma/

Apia, Samoa – 01 October 2025: Police Inspector Paul Taua’a confirmed in Court that the signature attributed to Police Inspector Nanai Vani Vai on the consent letter to guarantee another police officers loan, is different from his original signature.

Taua’a is the investigative officer who conducted the investigation into Nanai’s complaint against former police officer Visesio Silao who is facing two counts of forgery.

Taua’a told the court that he made Nanai sign on a paper 10 times then compared those signatures to the one on the consent letter and the loan deed and noticed the difference in the signatures.

According to court documents, Nanai’s complaint contests his signing of a consent letter as a guarantor and his signature on the loan document for Silao’s $235,000 loan at the Samoa National Provident Fund (SNPF).

His Honour the Chief Justice, Satiu Simativa Perese asked Nanai for his passport which was presented then said Nanai’s signature on the passport is different from the 10 signatures presented by Taua’a in his investigation.

Nanai responded that they are the same.

Prosecutor Joshua Leung Wai in cross examination asked Nanai if the signatures on the consent letter and the loan deed are the same with his signature on passport and Nanai said “no”.

Investigation based on SNPF documents
Defence counsel Fuimaono Sefo Ainuu put to Taua’a that his investigation was based on masalosaloga – suspicions and not facts.

“No, my investigation was all conducted on documents and evidence I requested and provided by SNPF and the investigation was specifically on Nanai’s alleged signature on the consent letter and the loan deed,” Taua’a responded.

The defence counsel also asked if the Ministry of Police allow other people to uplift others payslip and Taua’a said it depends on the good relationship between staff members.

Taua’a clarified that the confirmation letter from the Ministry of Police and the bank statement need not be signed but have stamps indicating where the documents came from.

“But the two documents – the consent letter and the loan deed are allegedly signed by Nanai, and these are the two documents my investigation was specifically on,” said Taua’a.

Deed for the loan signed by a private lawyer
SNPF employee Antonina Leleisiuao gave evidence and explained and clarified the process of preparing a loan application.

She said as the Loans Officer, she prepared all the paperwork for the loan application in question then passed the file on to the legal team who deal with the guarantors and the deed.

She also explained that the borrower has a choice of using the SNPF lawyer to witness and sign or a lawyer of their choice from the private sector to witness the guarantors signing the deed.

Antonina confirmed that Silao’s loan and guarantor was witnessed and signed by private lawyer, Faimalomatumua Mathew Lemisio before SNPF legal team and that she did not see Nanai in the office to sign the deed.

The case centers on Silao’s $235,000 loan which Nanai allegedly signed as one of the guarantors.

However, he contested the date on the document when he signed as guarantor, 17 June 2022, as he was then in Rwanda, Africa with then Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa for the pre-CHOGM meeting.

His travel document confirmed that was overseas from 5-28 June 2022.

Counsels are yet to present their final submissions before a verdict is delivered.