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Speeder stopped driving the vehicle he allegedly stole from ex-wife

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Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A man accused of stealing a vehicle from a home in the Tafuna area was arrested by police when the stolen vehicle was seen speeding on the public highway.

Mase Aleki made his initial appearance in Court last month.

Ale is charged with 1st degree burglary and stealing, both class C felonies, punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to sevens years, a $5,000 fine or, pursuant to A.S.C.A 46.2101, a fine equal to twice the amount of gain from the commission of said crime, up to a maximum of $20,000, or both such fine and imprisonment.

Bail is set at $10,000.

THE CASE

The government claims that on Mar. 22, 2021 around 5:35a.m, the Central Police Station received a phone call from the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS), informing them that a young woman had called the 911 Emergency line to report her vehicle had been stolen from her home.

The woman further stated to police that she suspects it’s her ex-husband that stole her vehicle from her house while she was working a night shift. TPS had called the victim to confirm her report.

After speaking to the victim, investigators put out an All Points Police Bulletin for the vehicle.

According to the victim’s statement to police, she still had personal items in her vehicle, including laptop and iPad, and cash.

The vehicle was recovered the same morning, when it was stopped for speeding heading east. A police sergeant, who stopped the vehicle, said she cited the driver for speeding and the vehicle was escorted to the driver’s home in Ottoville.

According to a female individual who was contacted by police, in the early morning at about 5:00a.m on the same date, Akei called her asking for help. Aleki asked if she could come over and take the said vehicle and hide it. Aleki told her that he was trying to find someone to take the vehicle from him and hide it because the vehicle belongs to his ex-girlfriend and he doesn’t want anybody to know that he stole the vehicle from her house.

Police visited Aleki’s home and asked him if he could come to the TPS to discuss something important and he agreed, going to the TPS on his own, where investigators spoke with Aleki regarding the stolen vehicle.

After being Mirandized, Aleki agreed to make a statement to investigators.

According to the defendant’s statement, he was angry to learn that his ex is going out with another male friend of his. He also asked his ex to pay back his money she borrowed for her father’s funeral but she refused. That’s when he made up his mind to do something bad to return the favor.