The Attorney General’s Office is moving to strike out the $1.07 million tala lawsuit brought on by the former Manager for the Fire and Services Authority Fa’afetai Alisi, against the Government over claims of unlawful termination and defamation.
The Government entities named in the lawsuit are FESA; the Ombudsman’s Office; the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Public Enterprises.
Associate Public Solicitor, Deejay Fong of the Attorney General’s Office confirmed with Radio Polynesia they filed with the Court a “strike out motion” on behalf of MOF, Ombudsman and MPE.
However, they sought a further adjournment to file a Statement of Defence on behalf of the first defendant, SFESA.
The matter was heard before Supreme Court Justice Leiataualesa Darryl Clarke yesterday and is now scheduled to be mentioned again on 16 May 2022.
Alisi is fighting to clear her name.
In December last year, she was initially placed on suspension pending an investigation however her contract was then terminated, over allegations relating to misappropriation of public funds and claims of misconduct.
Alisi is represented by the Drake Law firm and she claims the FESA Commissioner verbally informed her that she was under investigation by the Ombudsman, but there were no particulars. The statement of claim further alleges the Ombudsman failed to provide a copy of its Report, despite there impliedly being an adverse finding against her.
Alisi’s claims pointed out that published comments made by MOF and MPE over the allegations of misappropriation defamed her character.
She sought the court for judgement in the amount of $436,403.08 as her entitlement to expect employees to be continued until she reached the retirement age of 55 years; pay $39,276.58 for her SNPF; aggravated damages in the amount of $300,000 and exemplary damages $300,000 which amounts to $1.07 million tala.
