Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — According to an affidavit filed in District Court, on November 3, 2025, a man contacted the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) on Nov 2nd, to report his father-in-law for an alleged assault and for causing a disturbance in their home.

The 65-year-old suspect was later arrested and charged with:

Count 1: Assault in the Third Degree (DV), a class A misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to one year, a fine of $1,000, or both imprisonment and fine; and,

Count 2: Private Peace Disturbance (DV), a class C misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to fifteen days, a fine not to exceed $300, or both.

The defendant’s bail was set at $800.

The court record/ affidavit reveals that on Nov 2nd, police were dispatched in answer to a call to TPS by a man who reported that his father-in-law was causing a disturbance at their home in Faleniu.

Upon arrival, the reporter told police that while they were preparing for church, he heard his wife arguing with her father. The situation escalated quickly, so he intervened when his wife called out to him, and he attempted to calm both parties. After successfully separating them, he stepped outside and called the TPS to report the incident.

The authorities were also able to interview the victim at the scene, and she told the officers that she overheard her father speaking with her husband, whereby the suspect reminded her husband that the bishop had permitted him to bear testimony during that day’s sacrament meeting.

The victim continued that she approached her father and advised him not to make a testimony due to his smoking and drinking problem, as well as being an inactive member of the church.

In response, her father got loud and threatened to hit her with a metal pipe. He then advanced towards her, punched her in the face, which prompted her to defend herself by pushing the suspect away. She also said that her father grabbed a blue bottle and aimed to strike her with it. Fortunately, she was able to defend herself, ad grabbed the suspect by the shoulder, and held him down while she called out to her husband for help.

Her husband intervened, separating them before calling the police for assistance.

The suspect, identified as Kapaneta Tupua, was transported from his residence to the TPS for further investigation. Upon arrival at the station, the suspect was Mirandized, and said he understood his rights. He subsequently waived them, opting to make a statement.

The suspect claimed that he had been permitted to bear his testimony during the communion service. However, his daughter approached him and told him not to attend or share his testimony because no one wanted to hear it.

Mr. Tupua said he became upset and grabbed his daughter by the neck, after which she placed him in a choke hold and began twisting his head. He cried out for help in Samoan and pleaded for his life. Tupua further explained that his shoulder was dislocated when his son-in-law intervened and pushed him to the floor. The suspect also noted that his son-in-law later helped him into his room and lay him down while he was in pain.

Tupua was booked and later transported to the Tafuna Correctional Facility, to await the next available sitting of the District Court.

The affidavit, in addition, noted that the victim and the witness stated that their father had been banned from participating in church activities due to his violent behavior and his drinking problem. It was further noted that this has been an ongoing matter in which the suspect would instigate a fight between himself and his daughter,  aggressively assaulting the victim and then act as a victim when the authorities show up.

The defendant is identified as a 65-year-old citizen of Samoa.

[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. ra]