Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On October 11, 2024, a female taxi driver walked into the Tafuna Police Substation and reported that she was assaulted by another female taxi driver.

The suspect was later apprehended and charged with:

Count 1: Public Peace Disturbance, a class B misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to six months, a fine of $500, or both; and,

Count 2: Assault in the Third Degree ( As a C Misd.), a class C misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to fifteen days, a fine of $300, or both imprisonment and fine.

The defendant’s bail was set at $500.

According to the affidavit, on October 11th, at about 2:52 p.m., a female individual (victim) walked into the TPS to report that she was assaulted by Fofoga Godinet (later identified as the suspect) at a taxi stand.

The victim met with the police and briefed the officers regarding the incident. A departmental written statement was given to the victim to fill out and was later submitted to the officers.

The officers observed redness and bruising on the victim’s left side of the face.

Emergency Medical Services (EMS) was contacted and medical assistance requested for the victim. When the EMS arrived, they treated the victim and later released her when she refused further treatment at the LBJ Hospital.

According to the victim’s written statement, “the reason why they argued was because of the suspect’s Bonus Game.”

The victim explained that she had told the suspect to sell her numbers but the suspect got upset and shouted profanities at her. One of the taxi drivers grabbed and held back the suspect but she got loose and walked up to her and punched her. The victim stated that she thought of her children and the law, so she walked away and drove to the TPS.

The officers located the suspect at the taxi stand where she was approached and apprehended. The suspect was transported to the TPS for further investigation.

Upon arrival at the station, the officers Mirandized the suspect and she  agreed to make a statement and answer questions.

According to the suspect, she arrived at the taxi stand at about 2:00 p.m., on October 11, 2024. She stated that she “argued with the victim accidently [sic] and said profane words and then punched the victim in the face.” She admitted that she lost her temper, and apologized saying it won’t happen again.

A witness was also interviewed by the authorities where he explained that he called the victim to the taxi stand. When she arrived, he asked her why she wasn’t wearing their uniform. The witness stated that there is a dress code for the Taxi Stand regarding their uniform. He continued that the victim became upset and stormed out of their taxi stand because she was upset that he didn’t give her any customers and that he would not be paying her today.

Furthermore, he explained that the suspect was at the taxi stand at this time. The victim then called out to the suspect that she was not paying for the Bonus Game whereas the suspect asked why she wasn’t paying, but the victim walked away.

The witness stated that the suspect and victim started arguing until the victim walked over and the suspect approached and punched the victim in the face. That is when other taxi drivers approached and stopped the suspect. At this time, the victim walked to her vehicle and told the suspect “we shall meet at the police station”.

The suspect was booked and transported to the Tafuna Correctional Facility to be confined to await the next available sitting of the District Court.

The defendant is identified as a 54-year-old citizen of Samoa.