DANNY MIKA

The High Court has given defendant Danny Mika one more chance, releasing him on $5,000 bail, but failure to comply with all conditions of release, which includes being on time to all court proceedings, will result in bail being revoked and the defendant will immediately be held at the Territorial Correctional Facility.

Mika, who is charged with one felony count of illegal drug possession, was in court last Friday for a bail status hearing, after the defendant was twice late to his previous hearings. For example, in January this year, Mika didn’t show up when his case was called prompting the court to order an arrest warrant.

However, as the court was preparing to adjourn, Mika finally arrived and told the court he was late due to a flat tire. The court then ordered Mika to be on time for his next court hearing, which was set for last week Monday, but again, he was late. The accused said this time — traffic was really congested getting into town.

Chief Justice Michael Kruse was not happy and called a bail status hearing last Friday and the person by the name of “Duke Vele”, who posted bail was requested to be present so the individual would know that he would not be getting his $5,000 back if bail were revoked.

During Friday’s hearing, Kruse informed Vele that Mika was twice late to court proceedings and the court was prepared to revoke bail, and this means Vele would not get his money back.

Responding to the court’s questions, Vele explained that his relative is married to Mika and that was the reason he posted bail. Kruse informed Vele that the main purpose of the status hearing was to explain the bail money issue and that if bail is revoked the government will take the $5,000 — which may be needed by the government, since it is in the red. People, including attorneys in the courtroom, started to giggle.

Vele acknowledged what would happen to his cash if bail is revoked and the court has set another hearing for Mika later next month. The court informed Mika to be on time — the defendant was on time at last Friday’s hearing.

MALIEO MAUI

Another person has appeared in court for violating conditions of probation and this time, it’s Malieo Maui, who appeared in High Court last Friday, but the hearing has been continued to Mar. 16 to await the outcome of Maui’s case in District Court, where he is charged with a misdemeanor public peace disturbance.

Maui was sentenced in 2013 to five years probation, which includes several conditions such as 60-days in jail, and upon release from TCF, be a law abiding citizen and not violate any local laws. The case stems from Maui being charged with first-degree burglary, for breaking into a home in May of 2011, but he pled guilty — under a plea agreement — to the lesser charge of second degree burglary.

Maui was taken into custody late last month for disturbing the peace and his District Court hearing is set for Mar. 10. Maui remains in custody at this point and awaits his fate not only in District Court, but in High Court also, which could send him to jail for violating his probation.

(Samoan stories published in today’s Lali section of Samoa News.)