Escaped prisoner Pati Chong Nee still at large after 6 years 

By Esther Yvonne Atonio/

Apia, Samoa – 5 November 2025: It has been 6 years since Pati Chong Nee escaped from the Tafa’igata prison in June 2019.

Acting Police Commissioner Leiataua Samuelu Afamasaga confirmed at a press conference yesterday that it is still an open case and they welcome any leads that could assist them.

He said police had visited Patis family and relatives many times at Tapatapaō and Afiamalu and their surveillance work continues.

Leiataua also ruled out a link between Pati and the skeleton recently found at Aleisā and speculations that the escaped prisoner had probably died.

“We need to conduct a postmortem on the skeleton to confirm such a possibility, but police investigations on the case are continuing,” said Leiataua.

He again appealed to the public for any information that could assist capture the escaped prisoner and reminded that under the law, aiding and abetting a fugitive is an offence.