FORMER GHC REID EMPLOYEE TO BE SENTENCED IN MAY

A former employee of GHC Reid & Co. Ltd., Fuamoli Vaisagote, accused of removing close to $5,000 from the company’s deposit bag, yesterday entered into a plea agreement with the government.

Vaisagote, who has been behind bars on bail of $10,000 was charged with embezzlement; however in a plea agreement with the government, Vaisagote pleaded guilty to the amended charge of conspiracy to commit embezzlement, a lesser charge. Chief Justice Michael Kruse accepted the plea agreement.

According to the government’s case, the company filed an official complaint against Vaisagote on Apr. 13, 2012, for stealing money from the company a year before. 

It’s alleged that on Apr. 13, 2011 one of the manager’s of the company discovered the theft. According to court filings, police spoke to the president of GHC Reid & Co. Ltd. when the  complaint was filed in 2012, and she said the defendant had shown up at her house confessing that she gave $3,000 to her friend, who works at ASPA Procurement. 

Court filings say, the president of the company instructed the defendant to meet her at the office the next day, and Vaisagote showed up and signed a promissory note admitting to her guilt and the funds she stole, promising to make restitution.

Court filings say, per the promissory note, the defendant promised to repay $4,850.10 to the company in monthly increments. To date, the defendant has only made two payments on the promissory note, totaling $110. 

The government claimed numerous attempts to locate and interview the defendant proved unsuccessful during the investigation into the case.

Chief Justice ordered a probation report and scheduled sentencing for May 24, 2013.

STABBING CASE IN HIGH COURT

A man accused of stabbing a woman in her neck with a knife yesterday denied the charges against him when arraigned before the High Court. Mikaele Lotu is charged with first degree assault, third degree assault, and Public Peace Disturbance.

The arraignment was held before Chief Justice Michael Kruse yesterday morning, where the defendant waived his rights to the reading of the charges and entered a plea of not guilty.

According to the government’s case police received a call about an alleged stabbing incident that occurred in Aua on Mar. 9, 2013. The victim told police, the incident stemmed from her telling the defendant to stop the noise, as he and his girlfriend were arguing downstairs from where she lives. In response, the defendant came upstairs and she was first punched repeatedly by the defendant, who then left, and returned to stab her in the neck.

The victim suffered a seven centimeter laceration to the side of her neck and a laceration on her shoulder. Ten stitches were required to close the wound on the victim’s neck. 

The victim also sustained bruising on her face and jaw and a cut on her lower lip. Court filings say police took photos of the victim following the incident.

The defendant told police that he heard the victim yelling, and admitted to punching the victim four times on the head, and continuing to punch her when she fell down.

SEXUAL CASE RESOLVED IN PLEA

A 26-year-old man accused of impregnating a 16-year-old girl will be sentenced on May 31, 2013, following his guilty plea entered yesterday in the High Court.

Wesley Motuliki, who is facing charges of rape, sexual abuse first degree, and endangering the welfare of a child, yesterday pled guilty to sexual abuse first degree, a class D felony punishable with up to five years in jail, and a fine of up $5,000, while the government moved to dismiss the remaining charges.

Chief Justice accepted the plea agreement in this matter.

The defendant, who’s being held on bail of $50,000 is represented by Assistant Public Defender Leslie Cardin while prosecuting is Assistant Attorney General Kimberly Hyde. According to the government’s case the incident came to light when the girl’s grandfather filed a complaint with police on Feb. 5, 2013. The grandparents informed police that the girl had been living with her mother, and had come to live with them.

It’s alleged the girl felt ill and was taken to the hospital, where physicians informed the grandparents that the girl was five months pregnant. Court filings say, the girl’s mother told the grandparents that the girl had sexual intercourse with Motuliki in August 2012, and it was reported to police, however when the police officers failed to respond to the call, the family decided to resolve the matters privately and told the girl and Motuliki to refrain from further engaging in sexual intercourse.

However, the family was surprised when the girl was found to be pregnant. According to the government’s case, the girl told police that she met the defendant in January and had sex with the defendant for the first time in April 2012. She said they had engaged in a sexual relationship and they met monthly to have sex, until September — when they slept together nearly every night.

The girl told police that initially the defendant told her that he didn’t want to engage in sexual intercourse with her because he was afraid, and he didn’t want to be arrested.

Upon questioning by police, the defendant admitted to engaging in sex with the girl when she was 16 years old.

Kruse ordered a probation report in this matter.