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High Court hears drug and sex abuse cases

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ausage@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A man accused of unlawful possession of 4 glass pipes containing a white crystalline substance has pled guilty.

Malaki Tagaloa, who has been in custody since his arrest last year, appeared in High Court last week for a Change of Plea hearing.

Tagaloa was initially charged with unlawful possession of methamphetamine; and unlawful possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute. But under a plea agreement with the government, accepted by the court, Tagaloa pled guilty to a lesser, amended charge.

Tagaloa admits that on May 25, 2018 he unlawfully possessed 4 glass pipes containing meth, and on the night police pulled him over, he had on him, illegal drugs intended for distribution.

Tagaloa’s vehicle was pulled over during a traffic stop in Nuuuli after officers noticed that there was no license plate light. Police also discovered that the tag on the plate did not match the license plate number. (There were two men inside the vehicle – Tagaloa and a passenger.)

When police found out that the license plate expired May 2017, Tagaloa was cited, and his vehicle impounded at the Tafuna Substation.

A search of the vehicle netted a black pouch on the back seat. Inside, there were 4 glass pipes containing meth, along with $320 cash and several empty baggies. Police also found a digital scale and 2 lighters.

When asked who owned the drugs and the paraphernalia, Tagaloa said he didn’t know because the vehicle isn't his. When asked about the white crystalline substance inside the glass pipes, Tagaloa said it is “ice” (meth).

The passenger told police that he and Tagaloa went to deliver drugs to a man in Iliili.

Sentencing is scheduled for June 5th.

FIATUPU LAFOGA

A 24-year-old man from Samoa accused of sexually abusing a 15-year-old girl has entered into a plea agreement with the government.

Fiatupu Lafoga was originally charged with 1st degree sexual abuse, attempted rape, 2nd degree burglary - all class C felonies - and 2 class A misdemeanors: 3rd degree assault and endangering the welfare of a child.

Under a plea agreement with the government, Lafoga pled guilty to 1st degree sexual abuse.

With his guilty plea, Lafoga admits that on the night of Apr. 11, 2018 he unlawfully entered the home of the victim, by breaking the back door of the house for the purpose of committing a crime.

He said he went to the living room and, while the victim was sleeping with her two young siblings, he touched the girl's chest and her private parts in a sexual manner.

Lafoga, according to the government, was drinking with his friends in front of a store in Tafuna on the night of the incident, when a young girl walked over and called his name. The young girl was later identified as the victim. According to the government, Lafoga and the victim spoke for over 30 minutes.

Around 11p.m., Lafoga went to the victim’s home and committed the crime.

Lafoga told police that the victim was his girlfriend and she had invited him to her house, saying her parents would be at the airport.

When questioned by police, the victim, in the presence of her mother, said she never invited Lafoga to her home. She said she only knew Lafoga from a volleyball game 3 days prior to the night of the incident.

Sentencing for Lafoga is set for June 7th