Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On December 30, 2023, at about 2:29am, a woman entered the Tafuna Police Station (TPS) to report an alleged assault by 3 individuals in Mapusaga at their residence. These individuals were later identified as the boyfriend of the victim, Malala Malo, sister of the victim’s boyfriend, Jessica Matamua and the boyfriend’s friend, Louis Fuimaono. It was revealed that the victim was five months pregnant.

Samoa News has chosen not to name the victim of the alleged assault due to her being the victim of domestic violence.

Malala Malo was charged with the following:

Count 1: Assault in the Second Degree (DV) — a class D felony punishable by a term of imprisonment of not more than five (5) years, a fine of not more than $5,000, or both imprisonment and fine, but not less than $150, or both.

Count 2: Private Peace Disturbance (DV) — a class C misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment of not more than fifteen (15) days, a fine or not more than $300, or both imprisonment and fine, but not less than $150, or both.

The defendant’s bail was set at $15,000.

Jessica Matamua and Louis Fuimaono were both charged with the following:

Count 1: Private Peace Disturbance — a class C misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to fifteen (15) days, a fine or $300, or both.

Count 2: Assault in the Third Degree — a class C misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment of not more than fifteen (15) days, a fine or not more than $300, or both imprisonment and fine, but not less than $150, or both.

The defendants’ bails were set at $5000 each.

Three separate cases were filed with the court, for each defendant, for the same incident.

The victim provided her statement in which she explained that this was not the first time her boyfriend had beaten her. However, after this incident she felt that she could not handle it anymore.

Describing the incident, she told police that Galo “used a metal standing fan to strike her head which caused swelling on the left side.” He punched her four times in the face with his fist then grabbed a piece of 2x4 lumber, broom handle, and chair to hit her on her back. The suspect then threw the phone at her, grabbed her hair three times, and dragged her back into the room. The victim claimed to have been punched and kicked until she fell to the ground and was dragged across the room once again.

The suspect also is alleged to have used a wire and the piece of 2x4 lumber to hit her as she tried to reach for her phone. The victim then stated that Malo threatened to stab her with the pocket knife he held in his hand.

According to the affidavit, it was then that the sister of the suspect, Ms. Matamua, pulled her hair and punched her in the face while Galo asked her, “Do you want this lightbulb to flash from inside your head?” The victim stated that Fuimaono was also present and would encourage Galo to beat her up on numerous occasions, causing arguments and problems in their relationship.

The victim explained that immediately after she was released from LBJ, she made her way to the TPS to file a complaint and report the incident regarding the three individuals.

The affidavit revealed that “the victim sustained injuries such as bruises on her back and arm, swelling on the left side of her head and fingers, and scratches on her arms and facial area.”

When officers arrived at the home of the three individuals, they observed someone sitting in the house and called out to him. The individual identified himself as the friend of the suspect, Fuimaono. When questioned about the whereabouts of the suspect, they were told that he was inside his room.

The friend called out to the suspect and police officers explained the reason they were there. Both men were apprehended, placed in separate police units, and were asked where the suspect’s sister was located. Matamua was found sitting inside her house, which was the house next door to the her brother’s house.

Police officers knocked on her door and informed her of the report that was made by the victim. Matamua was then apprehended, placed in a police unit, and transported along with the suspect and his friend.

When arriving at the TPS, all three suspects were placed in separate rooms and were Mirandized.

According to the statement provided by Matamua, she explained that the reason she jumped in to hit the victim was because the victim had said something about her mother. She admitted that she assaulted the victim by pulling her hair and slapping her face. She further explained that the victim had already been assaulted by her brother before she entered the room. She also mentioned that “she heard that the victim was pregnant but she didn’t believe her.”

Fuimaono claimed that Galo “struck the victim with a chair but he (Fuimaono) didn’t assault his (Galo’s) girlfriend.”

All three suspects were booked and confined at the Tafuna Correctional Facility to await the next sitting of the court.

The victim and Fuimaono were identified as U.S. Nationals, whereas Matamua and Malo were identified as citizens of Samoa.