WOMAN FACES NUMEROUS MISDEMEANORS FOR ALLEGEDLY BEATING NIECE 

The woman accused earlier this week of assaulting her 10-year-old niece using an electrical extension cord had been charged with two counts of third degree assault, two counts of Public Peace Disturbance and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, which are all misdemeanors. Pre-trial conference for Masina Toleafoa of Nu’uuli has been scheduled in July for this matter.

According to the government’s case, police were called by a woman reporting an assault case and when they responded, they met with the woman who informed police officers that her children had met up with a young girl who was crying in the bushes. The young girl asked for a phone to call her biological mother to come get her, because she she said she had been beaten by her aunt.

The woman further told police that her children told her about visible bruises on the 10-year-old girl. Court filings say the police proceeded to the victim’s residence in the same area, where they observed the victim opening the door and observed the visible bruises all over her body.

Police asked the girl if she was accompanied by anyone at home and she said no. She said that her aunt (the defendant) went to the hospital with her husband and did not return home. It's alleged police then contacted the defendant via phone, and told her to come to the Police Station because they were transporting the victim to the police station.

The 10-year-old girl told police she was instructed by her aunt to fetch a shirt for her uncle and iron it, however because she took a long time to do so, she was beaten with an electrical extension cord, and as a result, her legs, arms, hands and body were bruised. According to the government’s case the defendant admitted that she struck her niece with the extension cord several times.

TONGAN WOMAN FACING DRUG CHARGES WILL FIGHT CASE IN JURY TRIAL

A 55-year-old Tongan woman from Faleniu who claims she was to be paid for picking up a box from the post office, which customs agents inspected and found methamphetamine inside, will be fighting her case in the High Court before members of a jury.

Ventilate Motuliki, who remains behind bars on bail of $75,000, was in court earlier this week for her pre-trial conference, where she requested a jury trial through her attorney Assistant Public Defender Mike White.

Chief Justice Michael Kruse scheduled the jury trial for June 2014. Motuliki is charged with one felony count of unlawful possession of a controlled substance of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, which is punishable by up to 20 years in jail, a fine up to $20,000 or both. Prosecuting this matter is Assistant Attorney General Camille Philippe.

According to the government’s case, on Mar. 6, 2013 a customs officer contacted the Vice and Narcotics Division with the Department of Public Safety for assistance and Capt. Paulo Peau Leuma investigated this case. Customs officers informed the police they were holding a woman suspect who had come to the Post Office to claim a suspicious parcel. 

Court filings say, police arrived at the Post Office and were informed that Customs K9 had alerted officials on a certain parcel, indicating there was an illegal substance inside, and they then waited to see who would come to the Post Office to pick up the parcel.

“Customs asked Ventilate who owned the parcel and she replied it belonged to her and was sent by her husband’s niece,” say court filings. 

The defendant said the parcel came from San Francisco and Customs informed police that the defendant’s hands were shaking as if she was nervous. The Customs Officer then proceeded to inspect the parcel and they came across a pop tart box which was already opened and it contained three packages inside. One of the packages looked odd and this caught the attention of the Customs officer.

The pop tart package contained something that was wrapped in duct tape; and, when it was unwrapped a Zip-Lock plastic bag containing 11 smaller baggies were found. At this time, the defendant was informed that the police were taking over the case, and she was taken to the police station, where she was questioned. 

Court filings say, Motuliki informed police that the day before she claimed the box, she received a call from a girl name Vina, who once lived in American Samoa, but has since moved to California.

It's alleged the defendant told police that Vina had told her to pick up the box from the Fagatogo Post Office and the box contained “maka”. The defendant asked Vina what is “maka” and Vina’s husband Tito came on the phone and explained to Ventilate that “maka” is ice (methamphetamine).

“Tito also told her, he will call her back to check if the box arrived, and if so, a man from Malaeloa or Vailoa would pick it up from her. Ventilate admitted that Tito was going to pay her $500 for her service,” say court filings.

The defendant said she went to the Leone Post office, where she received a yellow slip which she took to the Fagatogo Post Office, got the box, and turned it over to Customs officers for inspection. whereupon the ‘ice’ was found inside. Court filings say that a methamphetamine reagent field test was administered and it yielded positive for methamphetamine or 'ice.' 

MAN WHO STOLE CASH FROM BUSH STORE TO BE SENTENCED IN JUNE

Associate Justice Lyle L Richmond has scheduled sentencing for John Ioane on June 27, 2013 after he entered into a plea agreement with the government.

The defendant was charged with felony stealing, which he pled guilty to, and the plea agreement was accepted by the Associate Justice.

According to the government’s case Ioane broke into a bush store and stole cash which he admitted before the court. "I went in the store. I took some money. I left." The defendant was represented by Assistant Public Defender Leslie Cardin while prosecuting is Assistant Attorney General Julie Pasquale. The incident is alleged to have occurred in the Tafuna area.