Ads by Google Ads by Google

You won’t get away with driving with suspended license — no excuses accepted

American Samoa High Court building
ausage@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A 45-year-old man from Nu’uuli who was convicted of driving with a permanently suspended license is going to jail.

Finau Aleki, who has been in custody since his arrest on Aug. 19, 2021, unable to post a $5,000 bond, appeared in High Court last week where he was sentenced to 20 months at the Territorial Correctional Facility (TCF), as a condition of a 5-year probation term.

Aleki pled guilty to the initial charge under a plea agreement, accepted by the court. With his guilty plea, Aleki admits that on the night of Aug. 19, 2021 he operated a motor vehicle while his license was permanently suspended by the District Court.

He had been convicted of driving under the influence three times previously.

When given the chance to speak, Aleki apologized for his actions, and asked for another chance to return home to care for his family. He explained that he was driving to the LBJ Hospital to drop off his elderly mother for her medical appointment, because, no one was available during that time to transport her to the hospital.

In delivering its sentence, the court said, “The only good thing in your favor, as stated by your defense attorney, is the fact that there was no alcohol or illegal drugs involved in this case, when police arrested you. Our sentence will reflect that."

The court then sentenced Aleki to 5 years imprisonment; however, execution of the sentence was suspended, and he was placed on probation for 5 years under certain conditions.

He is to serve 20 months at the TCF. After 6 months — which includes time served — the court will consider a motion for work release.

Aleki is not eligible for trustee status while at the TCF.