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Bus driver facing multiple charges after allegedly assaulting 2 people in Nuuuli

American Samoa District Court building
ausage@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A bus driver accused of assaulting two men during a drinking session over the weekend is now in custody after police allegedly discovered 2 small baggies containing illegal drugs in his possession.

Kalolo Lemalu made his initial appearance in District Court this week.

Lemalu is charged with one count of unlawful possession of meth, a felony; and three misdemeanors: third degree assault; trespass; and disturbing the public peace.

Bail is set at $5,000.

If he is able to post bond, Lemalu is ordered to remain law abiding, not attempt to leave the territory, and not make any contact with the government’s witnesses including the two victims.

THE CASE

The government claims that on Aug. 31, 2019 at around 8:40 p.m, the DPS Tafuna Substation received a call from an Asian businessman in Nu’uuli, requesting assistance for one of his employees, who was being assaulted by a drunken man engaged in a drinking session with two of his friends in front of his store.

As soon as police units arrived at the scene, a blue truck parked in front of the store immediately sped off, leaving two men behind.

Police spoke to the store owner who said the driver of the blue truck that left the area is the one who allegedly assaulted his employee and another man outside his store.

According to the government, it was around 6:30 p.m when a blue truck pulled up in front of an Asian store in Nuuuli. Three men who were inside the truck got out and started drinking in the back of the truck.

The three men were the defendant, Kalolo Lemalu, and his two friends.

Two hours after the drinking session began, the trio started to make loud noises in front of the store, and as a result, Lemalu allegedly assaulted one of his friends, whom the government claims is vicim #1 in this case.

A Samoan employee of the Asian store came out and told the three men — including Lemalu — to leave the premises because they are not allowed to drink beer in front of the store.

A few moments later, Lemalu went into the store to buy more beer. As he entered the store, he saw the Samoan employee who came out and instructed them to leave. The man was cleaning the floor.

Instead of buying more beer, Lemalu walked over to where the Samoan employee was, and allegedly punched him twice in the face, causing the man to fall down.

Police interviewed victim #1 who said Lemalu punched his right eye after he advised Lemalu that it’s better for them to leave the premises before the store owner calls the police.

Victim #1 further told investigators that he noticed that Lemalu was on drugs during their drinking session, which started at 4p.m at Lemalu’s Malaeimi residence.

When questioned by police, victim #2 said he was surprised when a huge man walked over to where he was cleaning and starting throwing hard punches to his face. He told police he didn’t remember how many blows he took because he was trying to cover his face after the first punch landed to his jaw, causing him to fall down, while the man continued to throw punches at his face.

Lemalu was apprehended by police at a restaurant in the Tafuna area, and was transported to the Tafuna Substation for questioning.

A body search netted two small baggies containing a white crystalline substance that later tested positive for meth.

When asked about the two baggies, Lemalu told police he found them in front of the store in Nuuuli during their drinking session. He later admitted that he assaulted two men during that drinking session.