Don Bosco crew reject plea offer from ASG; opt for jury trial in sex case
Don Bosco adult volunteer, Vaega Anderson and two students, Falesefulu Susuga and Nomani Tepa, all charged in connection with a sex case, have denied an offer by the government and will be fighting their case before a jury trial slated for January 2016.
Each defendant — who has been in jail since April this year — is being held on bail of $100,000. This is in connection with allegations that the three had sexual intercourse with a minor girl.
The trio are each charged with criminal counts of rape, sexual assault, sexual abuse in the first degree and endangering the welfare of a child. It’s unclear as to the plea agreement offered by the government, but what is certain is that the government’s offer was denied and the defendants are vehemently denying the sex charges.
The three were part of the contingency from Samoa who came to the territory to participate in the Flag Day festivities in April.
According to the government’s case, the incident came to light when a man walked into the police station with two minor females. The man said he was concerned after observing the two females allegedly fraternizing with some of the Don Bosco students in the evening hours in Utulei.
Court filings say that P.I. told the police that she hung out with Don Bosco students however she did not engage in any sex activities, while L.L. stated otherwise — saying they had both engaged in sexual activities with the students from Samoa.
Further investigation by the Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigation Division (CID), had one of the minor females admitting to having consensual sexual intercourse with two students and one adult from Don Bosco, at an abandoned house in Utulei during the weekend of April 16-19, 2015.
Police spoke to the adult, who allegedly admitted that the incident with him did take place. Police proceeded to the abandoned house and discovered evidence among which were clothes that are alleged to belong to at least one of the girls.
Court filings say that Tepa, 19, and Susuga, 19 also admitted to having sex with the two minors.