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Inmate alleges assault by another inmate at TCF

It’s the 2nd such incident in two weeks in prison
Translated by Samoa News staff

A man in his early 20s accused of molesting a 5-year old girl two weeks ago, claims that he was assaulted last week by two other inmates at the Territorial Correction Facility following a disagreement inside the TCF compound.

When defendant Muaiga Siatiu, aka Povi, was in District Court last Monday for his initial appearance on the sexual assault case, there were no visible marks on his face or head, but when he returned to court last Thursday for his preliminary examination hearing, his head (front section, just above his forehead) was bandaged. Also his right eye was bruised and swollen, with a Bandaid just below his right eye.

He told Samoa News that the right side of his head suffered an open wound injury, which required three stitches while four stitches were required to close a wound under his right swollen eye due to the alleged assault (see photo).

It was noted during the preliminary examination that the defendant was assaulted in jail and because of the seriousness of the injuries suffered by the defendant, District Court Judge Pro Temp Gwen Tauili’ili-Langkilde accepted a request by the defense not to have the defendant held at TCF but at another location, under the custody of DPS.

A senior police officer told Samoa News last Friday afternoon that the defendant is now housed at the Tafuna police substation, in accordance with the Tauili’ili-Langkilde’s directive last Thursday. Additionally, police have an ongoing investigation into the alleged assault.

At last Thursday’s preliminary examination hearing, Public Defender Douglas Fiaui informed the court that his client has filed a complaint following the alleged assault and the government added that this matter is being investigated by police.

After the preliminary hearing, Siatiu told Samoa News outside of the District Court building what allegedly happened to him. Siatiu said it was last Wednesday afternoon, when a TCF officer directed him and other inmates to stop their volleyball game and return to their cells.

While he was walking with a TCF officer towards the building where he is housed, Siatiu said all of a sudden inmate Joe Palagi quickly walked up to him, saying to stop taking his time and to obey the order — which is to return to the cells. Siatiu also claimed that “Joe Palagi was swearing to him.”

“Joe Palagi” is the alias of inmate Mosegi Solia Jr., one of the four men accused in the November 2014 shooting of the Leone police substation and all four men early this month pled guilty to a lesser misdemeanor charge.

(During the Samoa News interview, Siatiu kept referring to Solia as “Joe Palagi”.)

However, Solia Jr. remains in custody because of a separate drug case against him and he pled guilty last week to violating a provision of the Medicine and Drug law, a felony punishable by not more than 5 years imprisonment or a fine of not more than $5,000. He will be sentenced Jan. 6, 2017 on the drug charge.

Siatiu told Samoa News that he responded to Palagi’s swearing; and told Palagi not to be disrespectful; and said as he was entering his cell, he was suddenly punched by Solia and the pair got into a fight, but Solia suddenly took off and brought back with him another inmate by the name of Reti.

Siatiu claims that Solia and Reti then ganged up on their assault of him, in which he claims a chair was allegedly used to hit him on the face and head resulting in his injuries. He was taken to the hospital for medical treatment.

Another inmate,Larry Samatua, was allegedly assaulted two weeks ago — also by another inmate. This case is also under police investigation.

Meanwhile, Siatiu was arraigned last Friday in the High Court where he entered a not guilty plea to five counts in connection with his alleged sexual assault of a five-year old girl. He is facing one count each of child molestation, sodomy, deviated sexual assault, first-degree sexual abuse — all felonies — and the misdemeanor of endangering the welfare of a child.

He remains in custody unable to post a $22,000 bond and his pre trial conference hearing is set for later next month.

(Original Samoan story was published in last Friday’s Lali section of Samoa News.)