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Man arrested for allegedly assaulting his wife

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ausage@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A man is behind bars after he allegedly beat his wife last week.

The incident was reported to police during the early evening hours of Dec. 6 by the woman who claimed that the alleged beating took place inside their Tafuna home, in the presence of their three minor children.

The victim told police she is tired of getting beat up every week when her husband comes home from work very drunk. She told police that her husband punched her in the face multiple times in front of their children, after he found out that she gave $20 for church activities.

According to her, this is not the first time her husband has done this. Last month, her husband allegedly beat her twice, and gave her a swollen left eye.

The defendant was apprehended at his brother’s residence in Vaitogi by several police officers. He resisted when police tried to escort him to the police unit. When asked about the alleged incident, the man told police that they have no business to investigate the incident because it is between him and his wife, not with someone from the village.

Furthermore, the man told police this is not the first time his wife has done this, using money he gives her to buy food for the kids, on cigarettes and other things.

He said he is planning to move out because he does not want to stay with this type of woman.

The defendant made his initial appearance in District Court last Friday. He was represented by Assistant Public Defender Ryan Anderson while prosecuting the case was Assistant Attorney General Jason Mitchell.

The defendant is charged with third degree assault and private peace disturbance (PPD).

After court proceedings last week, District Court Judge Fiti Sunia released the man on his own recognizance. He is ordered not to have any contact with his wife and children and he is to remain law abiding and make all of his court appearances.

The case has been transferred to the Family, Drug & Alcohol Court (FDA), where the defendant is scheduled to appear on Jan. 28, 2019.