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Samoa issues arrest warrant in incest case

The Supreme Court has issued a warrant of arrest for a mother accused of sleeping and having consensual sex with her son.The incident allegedly happened after the son had been out drinking alcohol last year.The matter came up before Justice Vui Clarence Nelson in the Supreme Court yesterday when he questioned the progress of the warrant of arrest issued for the mother.The warrant was apparently issued last December after the woman failed to show up before Court for the hearing of the charges against her and her son.The names of the defendant and his mother have been suppressed by the Court.But Justice Vui adjourned the matter for an update from the prosecutor, Ofisa Tagaloa, about the outstanding warrant.Mr. Tagaloa also informed Justice Vui yesterday that the woman has yet to enter a plea in relation to the incest charge against her.“Both these defendants should be dealt with together,” Justice Vui said. “So I am standing this over so Police can advise what the deal is with the outstanding warrant.”Defence lawyer, Monique Va’ai, told the Court that her client was extremely remorseful.She said that he acknowledges the seriousness of the offence and that he has already been banished from his village over the incident.Further, his family has had to pay a hefty fine for it.Ms. Va’ai said her client has suffered from the shameful nature of his behaviour, both on himself and his family.The defendant said he was under the influence of alcohol at the time and he could not control his emotions.The defendant is on bail and was ordered to abide by the conditions of his release until he appears again in Court.