TRANSLATORS
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A woman accused of violating local drug laws has entered into a plea agreement with the government. Although the court was having a difficult time finding out if the defendant understood the different between “guilty” and “not guilty”, the defendant, Siapu Lameta Agae...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — District Court Judge, Fiti Sunia gave the new Assistant Public Defender a huge challenge yesterday morning, saying if the Public Defender’s (PD) staff continues the practice of not being present in the courtroom, it’s better for the PD's Office to find new people who can...

![Associate Justice Fiti Sunia [SN file photo] Associate Justice Fiti Sunia](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/fiti_sunia_51.jpg?itok=zIi1I9tq)
![During yesterday's court proceedings, a man represented by the PD's Office was having a hard time pleading out because neither lead investigator for the Public Defender's Office, Paepaetele Taulua Fruean Suisala Jr. or his assistant, Eddie Fruean were in court to translate for him. Judge Sunia said the PD's staff have made it a common practice not to show up in court, essentially leaving their clients hanging. He did not mention either PD investigators/ translators by name. [photo: AF] Paepaetele Taulua Fruean Suisala Jr.](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/tuta_0788.jpg?itok=abXVeoSt)