Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The High Court has taken under advisement, inmate Levi Ugapo’s request for work release, so he could earn money to pay the $1,300 restitution that was ordered by the court when he was sentenced September of last year.

Ugapo’s defense attorney, Assistant Public Defender Rob McNeill, told the court during a Status Hearing last week that his client is hoping to be employed at a local retailer but the setback at this point is that some of Ugapo’s documents are still with the Attorney General’s Office.

He said his client needs these documents to confirm his employment status. Attorneys from both sides are now working on the documents and other paperwork to be presented to the court when a decision is final on the work release request.

The government accused Ugapo of collecting money from two victims last year, to pay for visas to travel to New Zealand and Australia. Ugapo was sentenced to 20 months imprisonment as a condition of his 5 years probation.

The court stated at the time that it would consider a work release request for legitimate employment, after the defendant serves 6 months in jail.