Ads by Google Ads by Google

Aiga bus driver pleads not guilty to sexual assault, rape of 15-year old

[SN file photo]
fili@samoanews.com

An aiga bus driver, who is 50-plus years old, is facing 14 counts, including rape, in connection with the case involving a female minor, a 15-year-old.

Kerisimasi Faumui was arraigned in High Court last Friday where he entered a not guilty plea, after his case was bound over the District Court last week. As of last Friday, Faumui is out on $50,000 bail and another hearing is set for later next month.

According to the complaint, Faumui is charged with two counts of sodomy; two counts of deviated sexual assault; three counts of first degree sexual abuse; one count of rape and one count of sexual assault.

An affidavit in support of the arrest warrant states that the victim and her mother walked into the Tafuna substation the morning of Apr. 20th this year, to file a complaint against the defendant, who resides around the same neighborhood as the alleged victim and her family.

The 15-year old high school victim is alleged to have told police that the defendant is 50-plus years old, an aiga bus driver, and that she and the defendant “started a couple-relationship back in August of 2015” after she graduated from 8th grade in elementary school.

She alleges that the defendant had asked her at the time how old she was and she told him 14-years old. While the defendant never asked her out, he told her that they were allegedly “dating and a couple”.

The victim further alleges the defendant would buy her clothing, shoes and food. He also allegedly bought her a cellular phone so they could talk.

Based on the victim’s statement, the government alleges in court filings that between August and December 2015, the victim and the defendant made-out — “French kissing”, but starting in February 2016, their relationship got into sexual contact, which was allegedly initiated by the defendant.

Court filings provided specific months of last year, when the victim alleges the defendant touched her in a sexual manner and then had sexual intercourse. The victim alleges they had sexual intercourse about four or five times and the last time was before Christmas of 2016.

The affidavit also provided specific details of some of sexual intercourse between the victim and the defendant.

Additionally, the victim and defendant spent a lot of the time talking on the phone and on Facebook messenger. Furthermore, the victim alleges the defendant knew the password to her Facebook account and the defendant had deleted all their conversations on Facebook messenger.

The mother of the victim told police that she got suspicious of her daughter and the defendant having a relationship but was only able to confirm on Apr. 16, 2017, when a message was discovered on the victim’s phone from the defendant.

Police located Faumui on the afternoon of Apr. 20th this year and he went to the police station, where he was warned of his Constitutional rights and he allegedly signed a waiver and wanted to tell his side of the story, according to the affidavit.

At first, the defendant denied having a relationship with the victim, but he was informed about how the matter was discovered — through text messages and Facebook messages he had sent to the victim, according to the affidavit.

Faumui allegedly told police that he had just started a relationship with the victim in April this year. He further stated that he had bought the victim a phone because she told him to buy her a phone so that they could talk.

The defendant also said that he was aware that the victim was a minor because he had asked her.

Faumui alleges that he had asked the victim’s mother for permission to date her daughter and that the mother was aware of their relationship.

According to police, the defendant said that he only sent text messages and Facebook messages to the victim of what he would do to her, but denied ever having sexual intercourse with the victim.

The defendant alleges that he bought her clothing, shoes and food because the victim’s family could not afford to buy her those things. Police said the defendant admitted to kissing the victim, but again denied having sexual intercourse with her.

The defendant also allegedly admitted to deleting the text messages because he did not want anyone to read their private conversations.

According to police, the defendant refused to provide a written statement but stated that his verbal statement was enough. Police allege that during the interview, the defendant “seemed nervous and would change his answers after being asked the same question.”