Fagatogo’s village mayor is being held behind bars on bail of $50,000 in connection with allegations that he raped a 15-year-old girl near the Juvenile Detention Center. A retired police officer, So’osemea Tinae, who is 71 years old, is charged with rape and sexual assault. The defendant made his initial appearance in the District Court yesterday morning, after spending the weekend in jail.

According to the government’s case the incident came to light when someone contacted the police to report that a suspicious commercial vehicle (aiga bus) was parked near a container close to the Juvenile Detention Center. It’s alleged that the person reporting the incident observed a young female and an older male in the secluded area.

The government’s case claims that when the police arrived at the scene they saw So’osemea and the 15-year old in the aiga bus. The officers took them into the police station for questioning, and the girl told the police that she had had sex with defendant against her will.

The police officers then contacted the Criminal Investigation Division and Detective Vasa Wells was assigned to investigate this matter further.

Court filings say that during the investigation, the victim told the police that the defendant had picked her up on the main road in Vailoa. She alleged that So’osemea then drove to the cannery to give money to the victim’s mother for food. She further alleged that the defendant then drove back to the Tafuna area, however while in Utulei the defendant had bought food for the victim and given her $20 cash.

According to the government’s case, when the bus arrived near the juvenile detention center, the defendant told the victim that he was doing this because her family owes him a lot of money and then he ordered her out of the aiga bus.

Victim “observed an old cushion lying on the ground between two containers”, and said  she was directed to take off her clothes and lie down. The victim said the defendant touched her in a sexual manner, however when she pushed him away, he threatened to beat her. At that point, the victim alleges, the defendant had sex with her for two minutes.

According to the government’s case, the defendant “threatened to kill” the victim if she told anyone what happened.

The rape charge is a class B felony, punishable with jail time from five to 15 years while the sexual assault is a class C felony that carries a jail term of up to seven years and/or fine of up to $5,000.