Samoa’s notorious criminal Tagalosa Filipaina Faisauvale passed away yesterday at the National hospital, four months after he was on “compassionate release”.
Filipaina has been serving a life sentence for the murder of two Police Officers in 1980’s.
He was 63.
“[However, Filipaina] has been at home since December, he was granted compassionate release from Christmas, when we were informed that he had cancer and needed to spend time with his family,” said the Minister of Police and Prison.
Labelled as a Drug Lord in the Country by many, Tagaloasa appeared before the parole board close to 10 times but was denied parole.
Acting Police Commissioner Auapa’au Logoitino Filipo expressed condolences on behalf of the Ministry on the passing of Tagaloasa.
“Our condolences to the grieving family,” said the Acting Police Commissioner.
“I can confirm that he passed away yesterday at the National hospital Motootua and out of respect for his family I cannot comment any further.”
According to PACLII records, Tagaloasa was convicted of the murder of two Police Officers committed in 1980 and 1981.
However, in 1992 he was released on parole in September but remains subject to a life sentence of imprisonment. After 12 years his parole was revoked in August 2009 following the drug-related charges.
In 2018, Tagaloasa was released during the weekend to attend a ceremony for the bestowment of a matai title after being deemed a “low risk” prisoner.
This led to an outcry from other prisoners accusing the then Minister of having “favour” upon Tagaloasa.
The same year Tagaloasa was suspected of planning an aborted mass breakout when the Prison was at the Tafa’igata at the time the Country was getting ready for Tropical Cyclone Gita.
He was then detained at Police headquarters for over a year and was transferred to Tanumalala when the prisoner moved to the new prison.
Tagaloasa, whose family from Faleatiu is known for having the biggest marijuana farm in the country as evident in a Police raid in 2020 where more than 400 marijuana plants were seized, along with cash and weapons at the time Fuiavaili’ili Egon Keil was Police Commissioner. It was deemed the biggest drug bust in the history of Police.
Editors note: Article has been amended to reflect new comments from the Minister of Police.
