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Teacher accused of inappropriately touching 3 students will be arraigned today

American Samoa High Court building
Joyetter@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The intermediate school teacher accused of touching three male students will be arraigned in the High Court today.

Ketesemane Sitivi’s case was bound over from the District Court yesterday.

The defendant was arrested and charged earlier this month on three charges of sexual abuse first degree; three counts of endangering the welfare of a child and three third degree assault charges.

Bail has been set at $15,000.

According to the government’s case, the incident came to light when a woman filed a complaint with the police on March 8, 2023.

All the victims in this case are 12-year old students, as outlined in the court documents.

It is alleged that H.E. [a student] told police that on March 7, 2023 his first period teacher called him to massage his right hand and that the teacher touched him inappropriately through his clothing.

 “He pushed his hand away but Sitivi kept on trying to get close. H.E. then told his friend, V.T. [another student].

The first victim told his parents about the incident and that’s when a complaint was lodged with police.

Victim number 2 (V.T.) told police that not long after H.E. returned to his seat, the teacher touched him inappropriately once and he pushed his teacher’s hand away. It’s alleged that Sitivi attempted to touch him again, but was unsuccessful.

The third victim A.P. told police his teacher touched him in a sexual manner for about five minutes.

The teacher was taken in for questioning and admitted that he called on H.E. to massage his hand.

 “Sitivit stated that what he did was wrong and is against school policy. He stated that he did not know that he put his hands close to H.E.’s private parts.

 “And that he did not have any intention to do such things to students.

“Sitivi denied having anything to do with V.T. and A.P.”

According to court filings the incident “happened within the 6th graders room of the Marist Saint Francis Elementary School.”

Earlier this month the Catholic Education in American Samoa issued a statement outlining “strict policy of non-acceptance of any form of sexual abuse in our schools.”

 “With great concern for the safety of our students in our Schools, the Office of Catholic Education wishes to respond to the recent report of accusations of sexual abuse of students at Marist Saint Francis Intermediate School in Lepua. “

“At Marist Saint Francis appropriate measures were taken when informed of this report.

 “All Parents and appropriate authorities were informed immediately. Counseling is being offered to the students,” the statement reads.

 “Our parents entrust their children to our staff that they will be safe in our schools.

 “Catholic Education has provided each school with Policies and Codes of Conduct to ensure School Leadership has clear guidelines to protect our children.”

The statement followed the incident where the 19-year old teacher allegedly touched three young boys inappropriately on school grounds. The school originally characterized the accused as a Sanitizer Cleaner, not a teacher.