Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On October 22, 2024, a female individual contacted the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) and reported that her husband allegedly assaulted her and was causing a disturbance at their home.

The defendant was captured after fleeing the scene and later charged with:

Count 1: Private Peace Disturbance (DV) With Penalty Enhancement, a class C misdemeanor but with a penalty enhancement by one class above the class otherwise provided (class B misdemeanor).

Bail was set at $5,000.

According to the affidavit, on October 22nd, at approximately 7:39 p.m, a female individual (victim) contacted the TPS claiming that her husband Matega Matega (defendant) was drunk and had assaulted her at their residence.

Police officers responded to the call and upon arrival at the scene met up with the victim. The victim reported that the defendant had run off but should not be too far. The officers searched the vicinity and found the defendant in the bushes near the residence. The officers apprehended the defendant and he was placed in the police unit while the officers interviewed one of the witnesses.

According to the witness, she heard them (victim and defendant) fighting over the phone and heard the sound of something that was thrown (which was the phone). The witness claimed that she heard the defendant swear at the victim, and then she saw the victim sit down and the defendant walked up to her and punched her in the chest.

The victim was also interviewed and she stated that the defendant had gotten home after driving the bus and drinking. She stated that the defendant got mad at her and threw his phone at her which she then cracked out of anger. She further explained that she went and sat down and that’s when the defendant came and punched her in her chest and swore at her.

The defendant was transported to the TPS for questioning where he was Mirandized. The defendant agreed to make a statement.

According to the defendant, he was mad because his wife had locked his phone. He claimed that he got into an argument with the victim where he threw his phone at her. He said that the victim picked up the phone and threw it on the ground. The defendant also stated that he did not put his hands on the victim and that the victim picked up a piece of wood and threw it at him.

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

The defendant is identified as a 61-year-old citizen of Samoa.