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District Court hears yet another domestic abuse case

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ausage@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The 42-year old man who was accused of assaulting his wife inside their house in Pago Pago village while he was heavily intoxicated told police that the reason he did this was because he wanted to discipline his wife from running her mouth off at him in front of people.

The defendant spent one night at the Territorial Correctional Facility (TCF) before making his initial appearance in District Court yesterday morning, where he entered a not guilty plea to the two misdemeanor charges against him.

The government has charged the defendant with 3rd degree assault and public peace disturbance. He was released on his own recognizance by Judge Elvis P. Patea subject to the conditions that he find another place to stay, and refrain from trying to make any more contact with his wife.

The case was reported to police by the victim’s sister, who noticed bruises on the victim’s face early Sunday morning. Asking her sister what happened, the victim replied that her husband had beat her up the night before, but she didn’t want to report the matter to police because she didn’t want to lose him. He is the father of her two young children and the only person working to support their family.

After hearing the victim’s statement, the sister decided to report the matter to police.

When questioned by police officers, the victim stated that she’s not blaming her husband for what he did to her because, her husband provides money for their children’s food, but she uses it to play Bingo and pay for her bonus lucky number every week.

The government claims the alleged incident happened on Saturday night when the defendant heard from their neighbors that there are nights his wife leaves their children in the care of one of their neighbors while going to play Bingo in Aua. The defendant is an employee of StarKist Samoa and he works the night shift.

When the defendant confronted his wife about the money on Saturday morning, the wife admitted that she used some of the money to play Bingo and pay for her Bonus number. The defendant then left the house and returned home very intoxicated and while his wife and children were asleep, the defendant allegedly assaulted his wife.

BEN SILILOTO

A 29-year old man from Tafuna was arrested by police last week on the allegation that he assaulted a Chinese man and stole his wallet and Samsung S7 Mobile cell phone.

Ben Sililoto made his initial appearance in District Court last week where he entered a not guilty plea to the charges against him of 3rd degree assault and stealing; both misdemeanors.

The government claimed that it was around 9 pm on Wednesday night, May 1, 2019 when the Central Police Station received a call from an anonymous caller regarding a Chinese man who was allegedly assaulted by a Samoan male in front of the Aiga Mart Store in Tafuna. Several police officers responded to the call.

A male individual who was at the store, and who was later identified as the victim in this case came forward and briefed police about the alleged incident.

The victim told police that he was walking in front of the store heading home but the defendant stopped him and asked for $5. When he pulled out his wallet trying to look for a dollar, the defendant allegedly punched him in the face causing him to fall down.

The defendant then allegedly grabbed his wallet and kicked his back multiple times before he (defendant) took off.

According to the government, as the defendant was assaulting the victim, he (defendant) told the victim to give him his phone. The victim told police that he was angry and at the same time scared and had no choice but to give his phone to the defendant.

After the interview, Sililoto was identified by another individual, who lives in the area, and who came forward.

Police officers were able to spot the defendant while walking with his girlfriend on the road close to his house. The defendant was apprehended and placed in the police unit and brought to the police station. While apprehending the defendant, police noticed a strong odor of alcohol on his breath and he had slurred speech and bloodshot eyes.

The defendant refused to cooperate with police officers when he was asked about what allegedly happened. He kept telling police officers that if he gets locked up, he’s never getting out because he’s already got a bench warrant regarding an old case.

When he was asked about the money and the phone he allegedly took from the victim, the defendant told police that he had given it to his girlfriend. His girlfriend was nowhere to be found by police.

Sililoto was released on his own recognizance and he’s scheduled to appear in court next month for his pretrial conference.