The Acting CEO of the Land Transport Authority, Muliagatele Tiumalu Malcolm Esera, has not responded to questions sent to him yesterday regarding the situation involving one of the authority’s Assistant Chief Executive Officers who was terminated following allegations that he removed vehicle registration information belonging to Unalei Rentals several months ago.
Unalei Rentals is one of the businesses whose accounts were frozen by the Central Bank of Samoa when the killing of Lorenzo Lemalu in Vietnam first came to light, along with the alleged links between those accused of the killing and the rental company.
In an email sent yesterday, Mai News asked Muliagatele about a letter submitted by the terminated ACEO to the LTA Board seeking reconsideration of the decision to terminate his employment. Instead of termination, the employee has requested that he be allowed to resign.
In the letter, the former ACEO cited several personal circumstances, including his financial obligations, existing loans, concerns about finding future employment, and his intention to contest the upcoming Vaimauga #3 by-election.
He also highlighted the impact the termination has had on his wife and children.
A copy of the letter obtained by Mai News was dated 20 July and addressed to the Chairman of the LTA Board. Mai News asked the Acting CEO whether he had received the letter, whether it had been presented to the Board, and whether any decision had been reached regarding the employee’s request.
As of publication, there has been no response from the LTA. It is also not known whether the matter has been referred to police for further investigation.
This article was originally published by MerMada Pacific Media/Mai News.
