FILIPO TOI ARRESTED, CHARGED FOR INCIDENT AT GAS STATION

The government has charged Filipo Toi with public peace disturbance, however the government is looking into this case to determine if additional charges should be filed.

According to the government, the defendant went to the Pago Way Gas Station to put gas into his vehicle last week, and he gave the employee of the gas station his VIsa Card, however it was declined. Court filings state that this was due to insufficient funds in the account.

It’s alleged the defendant left that day, leaving his identification card with the gas station until he could pay the $38 for his gas.

Court filings state about a week later, the defendant went back to the gas station demanding his ID card, however the gas station employees asked him to pay for his gas first. According to the government’s case, the defendant got upset, and threw a pocket knife at the tire cabinets, which worried the employee who then contacted police for assistance.

The defendant was not intoxicated during the time of the incident.

District Court Judge John Ward ordered the defendant not to go to the gas station anymore. The defendant was released on his own recognizance.  He’s represented by Assistant Public Defender Karen Shelley while prosecuting is Assistant Attorney General Julie Pasquale.

SEX CASE LANDS IN HIGH COURT

The government’s case against a 21-year-old man from Samoa accused of engaging in a sexual relationship with his 14-year-old female cousin which resulted in her pregnancy, was arraigned in High Court yesterday morning.

Samoa News is withholding the defendant’s name, to protect the identity of the victim in this matter. The defendant, who’s faced with charges of rape, sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child, entered a not guilty plea before Associate Justice Lyle L Richmond and Associate Judge Mamea Sala Jr.

According to the government’s case, police spoke to the girl in the presence of her grandmother, and she admitted to the relationship.

Police also questioned the defendant regarding the matter in a separate interview, and he admitted that he had sex with the victim because he loved her. “I apologize to the police for what happened but I slept with (her), because I love her,” say court filings.

The defendant is represented by Assistant Public Defender Mike White while prosecuting this  matter is Assistant Attorney General Kimberly Hyde.

WOMAN ACCUSED OF FORGERY/STEALING WILL FIGHT HER CASE IN JURY TRIAL

A woman accused of forging two checks from her previous employer, Samoa Sports, asked the court for a jury trial date through her lawyer Assistant Public Defender Mike White.

Uputaua Tuiuli is charged with two counts of forgery and stealing, which are all felony charges.

The defendant appeared in court yesterday for her pre-trial conference before Associate Justice Lyle L Richmond.

According to the government’s case, the first check in the amount of $280.90 was cashed at a store near the defendant’s residence, while the second check of $379.80 was cashed at Bank of Hawaii.

The authorizing signature is the complaining witness’s father, however the complaining witness told police her father was off island during the times these checks were cashed.

Police questioned Tuiuli, who said that her father told her it would be in her best interests to just go ahead and pay off the checks in question.

She told police she was unaware of the checks and does not know why her name would be on the checks. The defendant further told police that she did not commit the crime but is willing to pay them off, if it means clearing her name, say court filings.

Court filings say that when the first check was cashed she had just started working at Samoa Sports, and after the second check was cashed, she did not work for the whole week.