Controller & Auditor General, Fuimaono C Afele and directors Fetu & Norris, attended a meeting with the NZ Serious Fraud Office (SFO) held in Auckland. The meeting was to discuss ways forward for the Samoa Integrity Office Network (SION) to conduct investigations of fraud and corruption in Samoa. It was also an opportunity to learn and seek technical assistance from the NZ SFO in the implementation of an anti-fraud office in Samoa. 

This encounter opened learning about the role of SFO, their decision making process, the number of cases they dealt with and the support & resources they have. In addition, they provided work papers and templates/presentations to assist our efforts to improve anti-fraud investigations in Samoa. The experience of SFO is vital in the preliminary discussions of an anti-fraud office under the SION set up. 

We appreciate the help of SFO and their willingness to provide assistance going forward in terms of technical support to build the capacities of our anti-fraud officers. We continue to maintain and establish the connection with NZ SFO and we look forward to working together with them in the years to come.