Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — In January, police officers patrolling on the Iliili public highway observed an unknown man, who was later identified after found laying on the ground at the right side of the highway.

He was later arrested and charged with Counts 1& 2 of Sexual Abuse in the First degree, a class D felony, punishable by imprisonment for not more than five (5) years, a fine of not more than $5,000, or both.

Bail for the defendant was set at $10,000.

Samoa News had not identified the defendant due to a minor being the alleged victim of the incident.

According to the affidavit, on January 26, 2024 at about 8:30 p.m, patrolling police officers observed an unknown individual lying on the ground on the right side of the Iliili public highway. They stopped to check on the individual, and while they were checking on the male, who was found to be injured, two female minors, a 13-year-old and a 14-year-old approached them.

They told the police officers that the injured person had sexually assaulted the 13-year-old girl in front of the CCCAS church in Ili’ili.

Police officers interviewed the witness, the 14-year-old girl, who briefed them on what had happened. The police officers also observed that the victim, the 13-year-old girl, was very frightened and scared. The father of the victim was also present and he was asked to bring his daughter and the witness to the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) for further investigation.

Police officers asked the suspect if he needed medical treatment and he replied “no”. While placing the suspect inside the police unit, police officers detected a strong odor of alcohol emitting from his breath and clothes. He was transported to the TPS for further investigation.

Upon arrival at the TPS, the suspect was Mirandized in the Samoan language where he indicated he understood, waived his rights and also agreed to provide his personal information.

The two minors were interviewed.

According to the affidavit, the victim said she went with her cousin to a BINGO at the CCCAS hall, then the witness asked her to hang out at the church parking lot while waiting for their siblings to come.

She said, later on, an unknown male individual walked towards them and asked if they knew anyone by the name of “Vao”. The victim said “yes” and then he left.

Not too long after, according to the victim, the suspect came back again and at the same time the victim’s aunt had called out to her to come. When she came back, the witness told the victim “that the same individual was looking for her.”

She said the witness then told her that she was going inside the church hall to sell BINGO papers, and therefore she walked and stood near the parking lot. That is when the victim saw the man come again and this time asked her “if he’s going to be locked up if he touched her” and she did not reply.

Suddenly, she said, the man inappropriately touched her outside of her clothes several times. The victim stated that she slapped his hand away 5 times and then she ran away. When she looked back, she saw him following her, and he told her that if she told anyone what had happened, he would keep chasing her that night.

The witness’ statement reaffirmed her cousin’s account, with more details.

She said, “An unknown male came and said hi to them, and they replied ‘hi’ back.” The male then “walked inside the hall and came out and asked them if they knew anyone by the name “Vao”, and that her grandson’s name was Henry. They said yes.

The witness said they told the suspect that the lady was inside the BINGO hall. He asked them to tell Vao that he was waiting outside, therefore they went and informed Vao.

The said lady told the girls to ask the male to come inside. He went inside and not too long after came back and asked them to take his bingo packages inside and put it on his table — in which they both went.

The witness then explained she went to take their Pastor’s food and when she came back she saw the man inappropriately touch her cousin.

At DPS, the suspect was observed as highly intoxicated and he kept apologizing and that he would never do it again.

The affidavit states that he had a minor puncture wound at the back of his head but he refused to go through medical treatment.

(The affidavit does not explain how, why or when the wound occurred.)

The suspect was later booked and confined at the Tafuna Correctional Facility until the next sitting of court.

He is identified as a 49-year-old citizen of Samoa.