The Police tribunal has opted to demote the rank of Taito Sefo Hunt, from Police Superintendent to Corporal.
Hunt was the Captain of the Nafanua II that ran aground in Savaii last year.
This follows the ruling by the Tribunal after Taito was found guilty of three counts of negligence and acquitted for two counts of misconduct.
The demotion was confirmed by Acting Police Commissioner Papaplii Monalisa Keti in response to questions from Radio Polynesia, on Wednesday night.
As first reported on Wednesday afternoon, Minister of Police and Prisons Faualo Harry Schuster said he’s yet to receive a report from the Ministry on what the outcome of the Tribunal decision.
“The decision to accept of overturn the recommendation by the Tribunal lies with the Commissioner of Police and at the moment Papalii Monalisa is Acting.
“Under the law only she can overturn or accept the decision by the Tribunal,” said Minister Faualo.
Raio Polynesia made efforts to get comments from Taito, but were unsuccessful.
Last month after the Tribunal ruled to convict the former Captain, and that the findings, will be submitted to the Cabinet’s ordered Commission of Inquiry.
The Nafanua was in Savaii to drop off police officers, ahead of the HRPP car protest, on its way back it ran aground.
In 2019 Australia handed over to the Samoa $30 million tala “Guardian Class Patrol Boat – Nafanua II. At the moment the Nafanua II is in Australia for repairs.
