MAN ADMITS TO CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT ROBBERY IN GOLD CONDA CASE

Falefatu Asi admits that he and his codefendants Alatuna Simi and Sam Wright planned to rob the Gold Conda store last year May. Asi was in court yesterday for his change of plea hearing which was accepted by Chief Justice Michael Kruse, and sentencing has been scheduled for next month.

Falefatu Asi and his co-defendants Alatuna Simi and Samuelu Wright, are each held on bail of $100,000 and each has been charged with first-degree robbery and stealing. According to the plea agreement, defendant will enter a guilty plea to the amended count of conspiracy to commit robbery first degree, and in return the government will move to dismiss the stealing charge.

By Asi’s plea of guilt, he admits that on April 30, 2014 going into the morning hours of May 1, 2014 defendant, along with Simi and Wright made a plan to rob the Gold Conda Store in Faga’alu. Defendant and Wright retrieved a gun, picked up Simi and made a plan to rob the store. Simi and Wright entered the store with disguises covering their faces, and Wright was armed with a loaded shotgun, while defendant waited in his truck and served as look out and getaway driver.

After Wright and Simi took cash and a box of candies from the store, they fled and got into the defendant’s truck, and the defendant drove off at a high rate of speed. According to the plea agreement, defendant admits that he, Wright and Simi split the cash.

The plea agreement further says that upon completion of any incarceration imposed by the court, the defendant agrees to voluntarily depart the territory.

According to the government’s case, the lead investigator in this high profile case is Detective Sgt. Amituana’i Filemoni.

Samoa News first reported on this case Aug. 14, 2014.

JUNIOR TUIOLEMOTU FACING SECOND DEGREE ASSAULT

A man from Manu’a has been charged with second degree assault and resisting arrest and was scheduled to be arraigned in the High Court yesterday, however he fell unconscious in the High Court and was transported to the hospital by Emergency Medical Services.

According to the government’s case, on January 4, 2015 police received a call about a disturbance in their neighborhood in Vaitogi. Police responded and upon arriving at the scene they came across the defendant, who had a swollen eye.  When asked as to what happened, the defendant told the police that he was in a fight. The defendant was transported to the police station, where it’s alleged that all of the sudden the defendant started yelling out profanities.

The defendant was then taken to the hospital for treatment, and on the same day police received a call from a woman claiming that her nephew was allegedly assaulted by Tuiolemotu. Police then proceeded to the hospital where they found the defendant, and when they approached him, Tuiolemotu swore at the police officers.

Court filings say when the defendant was placed inside the police vehicle he kicked one of the police officers in the face twice. According to the government’s case the defendant also spat at the police officers.

SOPI SENIO ENTERS GUILTY PLEA IN PROPERTY DAMAGE CASE

Repeat offender Sopi Senio is scheduled to be sentenced next month, February 19, after pleading guilty to property damage. Senio was accused of property damage as well as assault in the first degree, which is a felony punishable by 10 to 30 years imprisonment.

However, he pled guilty to property damage while the government moved for the court to dismiss the remaining count. This is in connection with a land dispute, where he tried to cause injury to another person.

Samoa News first reported on this case in December, 2011.