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Bus driver arrested after supposedly pouring a hot cup of coffee on another driver’s face

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ausage@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A bus driver who allegedly poured a cup of hot coffee on the face of another bus driver was arrested by police last week.

Suaese Ulusele made his initial appearance last week before District Court Judge Pro Tem Gwen Tauiliili-Langkilde.

He is charged with third degree assault and public peace disturbance, both misdemeanors.

During his initial appearance hearing, Ulusele was released on his own recognizance subject to several conditions. He has to keep the peace at all times, not have any contact with the victim, including government’s witnesses and he is to make all of his court appearance.

The government claims that it was around 9:21a.m of July 9, 2019 when the victim walked into the Tafuna Substation and filed a complaint against Suluese for pouring a cup of hot coffee on to his face, while he was inside his bus.

The victim told police that he was driving his Aiga bus to the west side of the island when he saw a group of people waiting for a bus at a bus stop in Lepuapua. Instead of continuing his bus to Leone, he stopped to pick up the passengers, who were at the bus stop.

While passengers were getting into his bus, another Aiga bus, driven by the defendant pulled over close to his bus. The defendant then asked him why he was picking up his passengers. The victim responded by saying that he was just doing his job as a bus driver, taking people where they want to go.

It was at this time, the defendant allegedly poured a cup of hot coffee onto the victim’s face. The victim told police that not only was his face burnt by the hot cup of coffee, but he was also embarrassed that the incident happened in the presence of the passengers.

Sulusese was apprehended when police stopped his bus on the road and he was escorted to the Tafuna Substation for further investigation.

During the interview, Sulusese told police that they had no right to stop his bus nor to arrest him while he was serving the public.

Sulusese is scheduled to appear in court on July 30th.