Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On December 15, 2023, at about 1:00pm, a 28-year-old male, Jubilee Ki was reported to have allegedly slapped his girlfriend, Faiai Sulufaleese while on LBJ Hospital grounds, leaving a red handprint on the left side of her face. He then fled the scene.

The defendant was charged with the following:

Count 1: Public Peace Disturbance (DV) — a class B misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for six (6) months, a fine of $500, but not less than $150, or both.

Count 2: Assault in the Third Degree (DV) — a class A misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment for up to one (1) year, a fine of $1000, but not less than $150, or both.

Bail was set at $500.

According to the court affidavit, upon arrival at the LBJ Hospital, officers were directed to the CEO’s office by LBJ Security, where they spoke to the victim. The victim had a visible red handprint on the left side of her face, according to the Officers who took a photo of the victim via mobile phone.

She briefed officers regarding the incident and further insisted on providing them with a written statement, as well as with the suspect’s information.

The victim told police that she was behind the HR building at the LBJ Hospital, which is her place of employment, when she alleged she heard the suspect calling out to her from a taxi, but she purposely ignored him and walked behind the building, where the suspect followed her.

She said they argued about their relationship, when unexpectedly, she claimed the suspect slapped her on the left side of her face, “turned around and left in a taxi.”

Officers tried to locate the suspect, however they could not find him anywhere on hospital grounds. The victim explained that the suspect could probably be located at his home in Ottoville.

While approaching the suspect’s home, officers observed him (suspect) exiting his home and entering a red truck. On approach, officers explained the situation to him, and requested that the defendant exit the vehicle. He asked the officers if he could properly park his truck before leaving with them, to which the officers agreed.

The suspect was transported to the Tafuna Police Station (TPS) for further investigation.

 The suspect was Mirandized and refused to make a statement and told officers he wanted his lawyer who was already on his way. The affidavit states that the suspect was not “interrogated in terms of his rights”, but was booked and confined to be transported to the Tafuna Correctional Facility (TCF) to await the next sitting of the Court.

Officers contacted the suspect’s lawyer and informed that he could see the suspect at TCF.

Transported to the TCF, the suspect and one of the arresting officers arrived to find the lawyer and the suspect’s father waiting for them. The father was briefed by the officer and then left the facility.

A note, handwritten on the affidavit, states the following:

“The suspect and victim have had a 2 year relationship but are not married. Their relationship was known to both their families. They do not reside together.”

The affidavit indicates the suspect’s place of birth is “Western Samoa”.