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Man accused of kidnapping 10-year-old girl

A 51-year-old man accused of kidnapping a 10-year-old girl and attempting to molest her is being held on bail of $50,000.

 

Loma Itutasi is charged with kidnapping, sexual abuse first degree and attempted child molestation, which are all felonies. Kidnapping and first degree sexual abuse are class B felonies, punishable up from five to 15 years in jail, while attempted child molesting is a class D felony punishable up to five years in jail.

 

Police officer Devon Mata’u of the Leone Substation was the lead investigator in this case. According to the government, police were informed by the victim’s family the victim went missing from the house, so they searched for her in a neighborhood in Malaeloa.

 

It’s alleged in the process of looking for the 10-year-old girl, the victim’s sister was calling out the girl’s name, however when she reached in front of Itutasi’s residence, she heard the victim “screaming” from inside the defendant’s residence. Court filings say, neighbors upon hearing screaming from inside Itutasi’s house rushed out at the same time the victim came running out of the house “screaming for help”.

 

Police officers apprehended the defendant and took him in to the police station for questioning. The investigators spoke to the 10-year-old girl who said, she was on the main road waiting for her mother when the defendant called her name.

 

It’s alleged the defendant walked out of his house, and told her to come, the victim then walked to Itutasi, who allegedly grabbed the victim by the hand and “dragged her inside his (Itutasi) house.”

 

It’s alleged the victim was pulled into the defendant’s room and she was told to sit on his lap, which she did. “Victim stated that Itutasi was trying to kiss her by grabbing her mouth and pulled her towards him.” The victim stated she heard her sister calling out her name and when she looked out the window, she saw her sister and attempted to scream, however Itutasi “covered her mouth tightly.”

 

Court filings say the victim said the defendant “then grabbed her hand and threw her on the bed and laid on top of her then started touching her stomach and her breasts, while he tried to pull her top, but she slapped his hand.

 

She “also stated that Itutasi, tried to pull down her skirt” but she refused and she asked him what he was doing but its alleged the defendant said, “just don’t tell anyone or anybody,” the court filings state. The government claims, when the defendant heard the victim’s grandmother was calling out for her, he (defendant) then told the girl to get out of his house and “shoved her out of the room.”

 

The victim said, “When she got out of the room, she was trying to run as fast as she can whereas she fell on the concrete and injured her knee and hands.” Court filings say, the defendant was intoxicated and stated he was drinking the whole day and the whole week.

 

He was arraigned in the High Court last week, where he denied the charges against him. Samoa News understands the defendant was released from jail in 2009 after similar conduct.