80-YEAR-OLD CHARGED WITH ASSAULT

An 80-year-old man made his initial appearance in the District Court yesterday morning after spending the night in jail on allegations that he assaulted his mechanic with a piece of lumber over the weekend. Vaesa’u Sailele Meli is facing charges of third degree assault and public peace disturbance which are both misdemeanors that carry jail terms of up to one year, fines of up to $1,000 or both.

Meli is the mayor or pulenu’u of the village of Sa’ilele.

According to the government’s case, police received a call from a woman claiming that her husband has been assaulted. It’s alleged that police responded to the call where they met with the victim, who was observed with a bloody stain on the right side of his head. Emergency Medical Services (EMS) was contacted for treatment while the police apprehended Meli for questioning. Upon arriving at the police station, the he voluntarily confessed that what he did was wrong.

Court filings say that Meli told the police that he was mad at the victim as he gave him $60 for a part for his car, however it had been a long time and he was still waiting for the car part. The victim told the place that he had just arrived home from work when the suspect called out his name, he went to him, and that’s when Meli scolded him.

Victim told police that he was trying to speak with Meli, however Meli was very angry and grabbed a piece of lumber and struck him on the head. Court filings say that according to medical reports, the victim suffered a minor laceration on his scalp, which required two stitches.

CHINESE MAN CHARGED FOR PPD AND PROPERTY DAMAGE

A Chinese man, Guo Gheng was arrested and charged over the weekend, and he made his initial appearance in District Court yesterday. This matter came to light when police observed a female Asian woman who, it was believed, fell from a taxi in Ili’ili.

According to the government’s case, the taxi driver and Gheng were taken into the police station for questioning. Police were told by the taxi driver that their taxi stand received a call from someone asking for a taxi at the Pacific Mart in Ili’ili. Upon arrival, the couple wanted to go to Leone, and on their way the Chinese woman asked the taxi driver how much is the fare from Ili’ili to Leone. The taxi driver told them $10, however, the woman said no, it’s $8.

The driver then had the couple call the taxi stand to reaffirm the fair was $10. When the vehicle got to KS Mart, the couple asked that they be dropped off. The driver pulled into the parking lot, where it is alleged the man opened the door and jumped out while the vehicle was moving. Seconds later, his wife also jumped out while the car was moving.

The taxi driver further told the police, as soon as the defendant got out, he grabbed a rock that was nearby and threw it at the taxi, and as a result the taxi was dented. EMS were contacted as the woman was injured as a result of jumping out of the vehicle.

At the police station, police contacted a Chinese translator who informed the police that defendant admitted that he had jumped out of the moving vehicle and got a rock, which he threw at the taxi. Court filings say when police were conducting the booking for the defendant to be taken to the Tafuna Correctional Facility, he started making unreasonable noises and misbehaving inside the jail. Gheng is charged with public peace disturbance and property damage.