Congressman Faleomavaega announced today that he has contacted the Prime Minister of Fiji, the US Attorney General, and the US State Department and requested an immediate investigation into the death of Mr. Alex Galea’i.

In his letters to top government officials in the US and Fiji, Faleomavaega said that he has been contacted by his constituent, Mrs. Fia Faiivae Galea’i, regarding her son, Mr. Alex Galea’i, who was found dead in his hotel room in Suva, Fiji sometime around 10 July 2007.

“Fijian police officials who conducted the investigation reported that Mr. Galea’i had multiple knife wounds both in his stomach and chest areas.  Fijian police also determined that the cause of Mr. Galeai’s death was self-inflicted.”

“I do not for a second believe such a finding,” Faleomavaega said, “especially when an autopsy was not performed on Mr. Galeai’s body.  It is quite obvious that a murder took place and that foul play is involved.  For this reason, I have called for an immediate investigation and asked the US Attorney General to dispatch a team of FBI agents to conduct a thorough review of the events surrounding Mr. Galeai’s untimely death.

“I have also called upon Assistant Secretary Christopher Hill of the US State Department to intervene through diplomatic channels.  Also, I have contacted the Prime Minister of Fiji and requested the assistance of the appropriate Ministry of his government to assist US federal agents who I am hopeful will be sent to Fiji to conduct an investigation in the very near future.” 

“It is my understanding that Mr. Galeai’s body was flown recently from Fiji to American Samoa, and it is expected that an autopsy will be conducted sometime this week at the LBJ Medical Tropical Center in American Samoa.  If asked, I will forward the results of the autopsy to the US Attorney General.”

“Until then, my thoughts and prayers are with the family and I will do everything I can to make sure they get the justice they deserve,” Faleomavaega concluded.