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Older sister allegedly assaults younger sister for being disrespectful

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reporters@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — In May, the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) received a call from A’uma regarding a female individual who allegedly assaulted her younger sister and was disturbing the peace in the family home.

The defendant was later apprehended and charged with:

Count 1: Private Peace Disturbance, a class C misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to fifteen days, a fine of $300 but not less than $150, or both; and,

Count 2: Assault in the Third Degree (As a C Misd.) (DV), a class C misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to fifteen days, a fine of $300 but not less than $150, or both.

Bail of $500 is set.

According to the affidavit, on May 29, 2024, at or about 6:40 p.m, Moana Iolama threatened her sister with a screwdriver, at their residence at A’uma. The defendant was also reported to have disturbed the peace by alleged loud yelling and engaging in a fight with her sister by pulling her hair and punching her sister twice in the back of her neck. She also used a floor tile and a pot to hit her sister on the head, the affidavit said.

Police officers, upon arrival at the scene, met up with the victim. The victim verbally stated that she went to check on her room that she cleaned up for her aunt and she saw that her sister (defendant) was occupying the room. The victim further stated that she approached the defendant about the room that was reserved for their aunt from off-island but Moana didn’t care.

The victim explained she told Moana to get out of the room but the defendant came towards her with a screwdriver and told her to get away. The victim said “she hit the defendant’s hand that was holding the screwdriver whereas Moana dropped the screwdriver and grabbed her hair and punched her twice in the back of her neck.

Officers on scene also proceeded to locate the defendant, who came outside of their residence. They then apprehended her and she was later transported to the TPS.

Upon arrival at the TPS, the defendant was Mirandized where she agreed to answer questions and make a verbal statement.

According to the defendant’s statement, it all started with her family being mad because she was sleeping in a room that was prepared for their aunt from off-island. When she (defendant) scolded her little sister, she claimed that she could hear her younger sister mumbling words. Therefore, she hit her sister (victim) with a cooking pot and punched her twice in the back of the neck because the victim was being disrespectful to her.

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

The defendant is identified as a 27 year-old citizen of Samoa.