ALLEGED SUICIDE : FILE PHOTO of deceased prisoner, Kolani Lam, who allegedly died from drinking the weedkiller chemical paraquat.
By Staff Writer
The standard of service performance by authorities at the Tanumalala Prison is under serious scrutiny following the death of an inmate last week, allegedly from drinking the weedkiller chemical paraquat.
Coroner/Judge Alalatoa Rosella Viane Papali’i has ordered an investigation into the death last Wednesday, 8 February 2023, of male prisoner, Kolani Lam, on suspicion of drinking paraquat.
He was rushed from prison on Tuesday 7 February 2023 to the nearby Leulumoega-tuai hospital for medical attention and released on the same day.
His health, however, reportedly deteriorated in the early hours of the following day, Wednesday 8 February 2023, and was admitted to the TTM Hospital where he died.
Coroner/Judge Alalatoa has ordered an independent investigation into the prisoner’s death and has called in the Office of the Ombudsman to do so.
The investigation will consider ‘ …the possibility of omission and negligence of prison authorities in not providing proper supervision to prisoners working unsupervised on the open fields.’
Prison authorities exercise of reasonable care and attention to prevent inmates from causing personal harm to himself or others …whether through intentional actions..’ will be looked into as well.
Top priority for the investigation to look into is ‘…how paraquat came to be available at a prisons facility where health and safety for prisoners and all concerned should be the paramount concern and top priority.’
Coroner/Judge Alalatoa has ordered a stop to the purchase of paraquat and other poisonous chemicals on the interim to all the prisons at Tanumalala and Oloamanu in Upolu and Vaiaata in Savaii.
An inquest on the prisoner’s death is scheduled for the 12 July 2023 after all the evidence has been investigated including a postmortem on the body.
The report from the Ombudsman Office investigation will also have the added input of assisting the Coroner ‘..with preventative and educational recommendations’ after the inquest.