Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On August 10, 2024, a mother contacted the Tafuna Police Substation regarding an alleged assault on her son by several male individuals.

Four suspects were apprehended and two were charged:

Ka Kandahar was charged with:

Count 1: Assault in the Second Degree, a class D felony punishable by imprisonment of not more than five years, a fine of not more than five years, or both; and,

Count 2: Assault in the Third Degree, a class A misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment of not more than one year, a fine of not more than $1,000, or both.

Ka’s bail was set at $5,000.

Pelesasa Suafoa was charged with Count 1: Assault in the Third Degree, a class A misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment of not more than one year, a fine of not more than $1,000, or both.

Suafoa’s bail was set at $500.

According to the affidavit, the investigation of the incident disclosed that on August 10th, at unknown hours, the victim was assaulted by four male individuals.

 The victim was punched and kicked in the face numerous times by defendants, Pelesala Suafoa and Kandahr Ka. A wooden bench was also used to hit the victim’s face twice.

Two other defendants involved, a minor and an unknown suspect named Kaisa were a part of the assault. Kaisa, the affidavit alleges kicked and punched the victim in the face, while the minor punched the victim several times.

The victim’s injuries were photographed, showing both eyes swollen and bruised, and both eyes were red and watery, as well. The right side of the victim’s head was also swollen.

On August 11th, Sunday, at about 11:00 p.m., the mother of the victim contacted the TPS in regards to her son who was assaulted on August 10, 2024 by unknown male individuals at unknown hours.

The mother spoke to a police officer over the phone and informed him that her son refused to come to the TPS to file a complaint on the assault. The victim's mother also stated that her son’s eyes were swollen and bruised, he had a bump on his forehead, and his body ached from the night before.

The officer told the victim’s mother to come into the TPS to file a report.

On August 11th, at about 11:20 p.m, the mother and the victim walked into the TPS where one of the officers interviewed the victim.

The officer observed the victim’s eyes were swollen, bruised and red, and took photographs of the victim’s injuries, which included the victim’s forehead (right side) being swollen as well as his right wrist.

The victim refused medical attention from the EMS, but agreed to have his mother take him to the hospital later.

The victim was not able to provide a written statement due to his broken wrist however he was able to give a verbal statement regarding the alleged assault.

The victim verbally stated that on Saturday night (August 10, 2024) — he can’t recall the time of the incident — he was with a couple of friends drinking at the aumaga’s fale when a group of village teenagers approached him inside the fale.

He explained that Suafoa (suspect #1) approached him from behind and asked him, “Why did he ask his little brother if he wanted to start a fight?” Suspect #1 then punched him from behind three times, hitting him in the face and caused him to fall on the floor.

According to the victim, suspect #2, Kandahr Ka, kicked him numerous times while on the ground and punched him twice in the face. Ka also grabbed a wooden bench that was inside the aumaga fale and hit him. The victim stated that when Ka hit him with the bench the first time, he was able to cover his face with his right arm which resulted in a broken wrist. The second time Ka hit him in the face with the bench, it resulted in a bump on the right side of his forehead.

The victim also stated that he couldn’t recall who else was kicking and punching him after Ka hit him with the bench. The victim explained that he just laid on the ground feeling hopeless and wanted to go home and seek help from his family.

The victim’s younger sister was also interviewed in the presence of her mother. She explained that she was at their house with her other sister when they heard their brother coming into the house. The victim’s sister stated that they saw blood coming from the brother’s arm and the way her brother was walking looked like he was in pain. She also stated that both her and her sister observed their brother’s face swollen and covered in blood.

Photographs of the suspects were also posted on Instagram on the night of the incident by one of the suspect’s brothers. Family members took a screenshot the posts from Instagram and turned it into the police to help locate the suspects.

On August 23, 2024, at about 8:30 a.m, police officers proceeded to the scene to locate the suspects of the incident. At about 8:40 a.m, the officers observed Ka in the area and apprehended and transported him to the TPS for further investigation.

The affidavit states that police officers went to locate other suspects.

At the Suafoa residence, they informed the suspect’s parents about their son’s involvement in the assault, and Pelesala Suafoa was apprehended and placed inside the police unit.

At about 8:55 a.m, police officers met with the minor involved in the assault, at his friend’s house and also placed him in the unit with another suspect, who was in front of the friend’s house.

(Samoa News is not naming the 4th suspect that was taken into TPS, as he has not charged.)

Parents of the minor were contacted and picked up from their residence.

Upon arrival at the TPS, the suspects were separated.

Suspect #1: Suafoa was Mirandized and willingly answered questions. Suafoa’s written statement stated that Kaisa (unknown suspect) was riding his bike when the victim approached him and asked if he wanted to fight. He stated that Kaisa left and rode to where they were sitting with Ka, the minor and Faiai and informed them about what the victim did to him. Suafoa said that they made their way to the aumaga fale and he approached the victim from behind and punched him three times. He explained that the victim fell to the ground and Ka and Kaisa continued punching and kicking the victim’s face. Suafoa also stated that Ka grabbed one of the wooden benches inside the fale and hit the victim twice in the face.

Suspect #2: Ka was Mirandized and agreed to answer questions regarding the matter. According to Ka, he and Suafoa, the minor, Faiai and Kaisa walked up to the aumaga fale and assaulted the victim. He stated that Suafoa threw the first punch while standing behind the victim. Ka also admitted to punching and kicking the victim. Ka also admitted using a wooden bench to hit the victim’s face twice.

Suspect #3, a minor: He was Mirandized in the presence of his mother, and was also willing to answer questions regarding the assault. He stated that he saw Suafoa punch the victim three times. He also saw Ka grab the wooden bench and hit the victim’s face twice. The minor also admitted to kicking and punching the victim in the face three times. He stated they all left the fale and made their way down to a place where they took a photo of themselves that night.

Un-named suspect #4: He was Mirandized and agreed to answer questions regarding what happened. He stated that Kaisa came to them and told them about what the victim had asked him. Suafoa, Ka, Kaisa and the minor including him made their way to the aumaga fale and approached the victim. He said that he spoke with the victim’s friends who were drinking with the victim, while Suafoa, Ka, Kaisa and the minor confronted the victim. He stated, he couldn’t recall how many times the suspects punched the victim however he explained he witnessed the victim fall to the ground and Suafoa, Ka, Kaisa and the minor started kicking him. He said that they left the victim inside the aumaga fale while he was on the ground.

The affidavit does not state when or if the suspects were taken to the Tafuna Correctional Facility. However, 2 of the 4 suspects were charged.

Suafoa & Ka are identified as 22-year-old U.S Nationals.