Commissioner of Lilomaiava Fou Taioalo

By Lagi Keresoma

APIA: Tuesday 08 May 2012: A post mortem to determine the cause of death of Togia Rapi Isalei Vaili of Faleatiu, reportedly shot during the police raid yesterday morning, will take place tomorrow at 1.00pm.

The special operation will determine whether the bullet that killed Togia was from a gun fired by police or a shot from someone else. He was reported to have injuries on his head.

The Commissioner of Police, Lilomaiava Fou Taioalo in a press conference said that police were armed with shotguns and rifles.

Police retrieved Togia’s body from a private morgue – Ligaliga Funeral Parlor yesterday afternoon and returned it to the National Hospital morgue to await a post mortem tomorrow.

Officers not trained to use arms: The Assistant Police Commissioner, Leaupepe Fatu Pula in a press conference today confirmed that most of the 80 officers involved in the raid were “not trained to use arms in raid situations”.

He emphasized the difference in armed officers and officers needed to make arrests or recover evidence from the scene of a crime.

However, this was played down by several police officers and ex-police who are part of the Special Squad employed to implement police raids. Several of these officers were trained overseas and are familiar with the execution of such raids.

Leaupepe also confirmed that Constable Toso Talatonu who was shot in the chest is recovering well from medical treatment. The other two wounded officers are Senior Sergeant Lemalu Upumoni and Constable Solomona Tuagailo.