court report
![Chief Justice Michael Kruse [SN file photo]](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/Kruse_0723_14.jpg?itok=_NjjUCqC "Chief Justice Michael Kruse [SN file photo]")
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — “… the sellers, the manufacturers and many other people should be filling the jail, not sick people.” This was the message from Chief Justice Michael Kruse, who says the executive and legislature branches need to hear that drug abuse is a medical problem. This came as...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The 19-year-old girl who was convicted of stealing was released from custody last week, after the High Court decided that the four months she served at the Territorial Correctional Facility (TCF), to await sentencing, was enough.
Caroline Purcell was initially charged...
![[SN file photo]](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/AM%20Samoa%20HC_108.jpeg?itok=OVwduZeq "[SN file photo]")
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — One of the three former employees of Western Union accused of stealing thousands of dollars from their former employer told the court that the accusation against her is true.
Judy Leilua Tautalaga, a 41-year-old mother was initially charged with two counts of...
![[SN file photo]](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/Pago%20Dist%20Court%20014_108.jpeg?itok=0Q7-K33d "[SN file photo]")
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — “Not paying your hospital bills is not an excuse for not renewing your Immigration ID. When your ID expires, you become an illegal immigrant here in the territory. If you become an illegal immigrant then you can’t work; and if you can’t work, you don’t get paid and you...
![[SN file photo]](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/Pago%20Dist%20Court%20014_106.jpeg?itok=7NIDv4GM "[SN file photo]")
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A 29-year-old husband was charged Monday in District Court after he allegedly stabbed his wife, 38, at a friend’s house. The victim sustained wounds on her left arm and was admitted to the surgical ward to await surgery because the knife blade penetrated the joint area...
![[SN file photo]](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/AM%20Samoa%20HC_104.jpeg?itok=1aOXqVz_ "[SN file photo]")
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Karisi Tiaalii has admitted to assaulting his girlfriend.
The 25-year-old was initially charged with first-degree assault, second-degree assault, felonious restraint, and felony stealing. But under a plea agreement with the government Tiaalii pled guilty to second-degree...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A 38-year-old man who was convicted of stealing — and later selling — a tool box containing tools belonging to a mechanic has been ordered to pay a $1,000 fine as a condition of his 7-year probation sentence.
Andrew Apelu was convicted of stealing — a felony, punishable...
![[SN file photo]](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/Pago%20Dist%20Court%20014_102.jpeg?itok=q03O3cYV "[SN file photo]")
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Taken into custody last Thursday night by police, was a mother of three from Fagaima, for allegedly assaulting her drunken husband, who had come home and wanted to cause trouble with her.
The 41-year-old woman made her initial appearance in District Court last Friday on...
![[SN file photo]](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/Pago%20Dist%20Court%20014_101.jpeg?itok=f1uZueI5 "[SN file photo]")
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The District Court has set bail at $500 for Alema Tevita, who was taken into custody over the weekend following an incident in Ottoville where he allegedly went to a neighbor’s home with a machete.
Tevita made his initial appearance in court this week and is charged with...
![[SN file photo]](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/Pago%20Dist%20Court%20014_99.jpeg?itok=f66aaqVb "[SN file photo]")
Pago Page, AMERICAN SAMOA — A woman accused of assaulting two women at church was sentenced late last week by the District Court.
Court information says Monica Asovale was charged with two counts of misdemeanor third degree assault for the incident.
According to the court affidavit, the defendant...