Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On March 2, 2024, a domestic dispute between a wife and her husband happened after the wife allegedly discovered drugs at their house in Fagatogo. Police investigating the dispute were given the drugs that were discovered when they went to the house.

Then husband, who is the defendant, was arrested and charged with one count of Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance (Methamphetamine- meth) — a felony punishable by a term of imprisonment of not less than five (5) nor more than ten (10) years and a fine of not less than $5000 nor more than $20,000, or both.

Bail for the defendant was set at $5,000.

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

According to the affidavit, on March 2, at around 7:36 pm, a police officer was assigned to investigate a domestic dispute of a couple from the village of Fagatogo. The incident stemmed from discovery of drugs at the couple’s house.

On the same date at about 8:29 pm, the officer received the items of a glass pipe containing a usable amount of crystalline substance and a lighter from the wife, who is also the victim in this case.

The victim briefed the officer of what happened earlier that led to her discovery of the drugs in their home.

According to the victim, she was very concerned about her husband’s threatening behavior and the safety of her and their three daughters especially with drugs being involved.

She stated that it has been a year since she and her husband spoke to each other although they live in the same house.

Furthermore, the victim explained that this is not the first time they got into an altercation whenever she finds pipes, cut-up straws and baggies at their house.

She admitted that she would always forgive him and gave him numerous chances to change. The victim also said that her husband gets jealous, which leads him to stalk her at her work place. She added that the defendant would humiliate her by making insulting remarks towards her in front of her co-workers.

The victim said when she went into their room and discovered a ziplock bag containing a glass pipe and a lighter next to where her husband was sleeping, she confronted him about it. She stated that her husband had no response, but just walked around the house.

The defendant then went to the back of their house and began sharpening a machete. The victim stated that this was new to her and she was very concerned about her and her daughters’ safety.

On the same date, the police captain tested the crystalline substance inside the glass pipe and it yielded positive results for meth. The evidence was documented and later turned into the evidence custodial.

At about 8:54 pm, police officers met with the defendant and he was escorted to the Fagatogo Police Station (FPS) where he was Mirandized, and was willing to make a verbal statement only.

According to the defendant’s verbal statement, he denied such behavior or getting into an altercation with his wife. However, the defendant admitted to owning the items found in their room. He also admitted smoking meth that was from friends at work.

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

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