Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On March 21, 2026, a victim in distress reported an alleged domestic assault at her residence in Malaeimi.

Her husband (identified as the defendant) was later arrested and charged with:

Count 1: Assault in the Third Degree (DV), a class A misdemeanor punishable by a term of imprisonment not to exceed one year, a fine of not more than $1,000, or both imprisonment and fine; and,

Count 2: Private Peace Disturbance, a class C misdemeanor, punishable by a term of imprisonment not to exceed fifteen days, a fine of not more than $300, or both.

The defendant was held without bail.

(Samoa News has withheld names of those involved to protect the identities of the minors involved in this case.)

According to the court affidavit, police were contacted by the victim, who reported that her husband had struck her multiple times during an argument. Officers were dispatched shortly after receiving the call and arrived at the residence to investigate the matter.

Upon arrival, officers made contact with the victim, who was standing outside the residence and visibly emotional. She appeared to have been crying and remained distressed from the incident.

Before officers began their formal interview, the victim called out to the defendant, who had been working at a nearby construction site, and asked him to come over so the matter could be addressed in the presence of law enforcement.

After confirming the allegations made by the victim, officers immediately detained the defendant at the scene. He was placed into a police unit without resistance while officers continued their investigation and gathered statements from those involved.

The victim later provided a written statement detailing the events leading up to the incident. According to her account, she had spent several hours away from the home doing laundry and returned in the afternoon. Upon her return, the defendant allegedly became angry and began shouting profanities at her inside their bedroom.

The situation escalated quickly, and she reported that the defendant struck her multiple times in the face.The victim also mentioned that she was hit repeatedly on the right side of her face and described the assault as sudden and aggressive. Although officers did not observe visible injuries at the time, the victim complained of pain in the affected area.

Photographs were taken at the scene to document her condition as part of the investigation.

When asked whether she wished to pursue charges, the victim confirmed that she did, expressing concern for her safety and overall well-being. She also informed officers that this was not the first time the defendant had acted in a violent manner toward her.

According to her statement, the defendant has a pattern of becoming verbally abusive and physically aggressive when he is upset, and she alleged that similar incidents had occurred in the past, sometimes in the presence of their children.

The affidavit further noted that the residence where the incident occurred belongs to the victim’s parents. The victim expressed that she no longer wanted the defendant to return to the home due to ongoing concerns about her safety and the safety of her family.

A witness who was present in the home at the time also provided a written statement. The witness indicated that she did not initially hear the altercation as she was in another part of the house. However, after the defendant exited the bedroom, she entered and found the victim crying. The victim informed her that she had been assaulted.

Following the initial investigation at the scene, officers transported the defendant to the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) for further processing. Upon arrival, the defendant was advised of his constitutional rights, which he acknowledged understanding. He agreed to provide a verbal statement regarding the incident.

The defendant admitted that he became angry after the victim had been away from the home for several hours. He stated that when she returned and told him she was too tired to prepare food, he reacted by confronting her in the bedroom. He admitted that he struck her multiple times on the right side of her face during the altercation.

The defendant’s statement corroborated key elements of the victim’s account, including the location and nature of the incident. Authorities noted that the admission further supported probable cause for the charges.

At approximately 5:00 p.m., the defendant was formally booked and transported to the Tafuna Correctional Facility, where he remained in custody pending the next available sitting of the District Court.

The defendant is identified as a 24-year-old citizen of Samoa.

The affidavit was filed in the District Court on March 23, 2026.

[Editor’s Note: An affidavit is a written statement confirmed by oath or affirmation for use as evidence in court. It is not a court decision. Under local law, defendants are considered innocent until proven guilty by the court.]