Court Report

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On October 7, 2023, the Department of Public Safety conducted an investigation into two individuals who allegedly assaulted a man by punching the victim with a stone, which left the victim with scratches on the right side of his lip and a bent nose.

Officers responded to the call, and they observed the first suspect, Alo Va’ali’i, standing outside the premises where he resides. Va’ali’i was apprehended and placed inside a police vehicle, while they canvassed the area to locate Siamupigi Sila, the second alleged defendant who fled the scene before officers arrived.

Officers then transported both the victim and Va’ali’i to the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS), where they Mirandized him. Va’ali’i then decided to cooperate and provided a verbal statement about the situation.

According to the defendant, he was drinking with the victim and Sila at their place. After a while, the victim started suggesting to Va’ali’i and Sila, that one of them could sleep with him in his room. Va’ali’i then stated that he told the victim to stop with the advances, but the victim kept on acting weird towards them. Va’ali’i said that’s when he pulled the victim’s hair and punched him in the mouth with a closed fist.

The victim also provided a verbal statement. According to the victim, he was drinking with both defendants and they were having fun, when out of nowhere, Sila kicked him and told him to leave. He retaliated by telling both defendants that he was not leaving, as he was the one who bought the drinks.

The report from the victim states that Va’ali’i then pulled his hair and punched him in the mouth. That was when he got up and ran across the street for help. The victim further said that when he came back to where they were drinking, Sila attacked him off guard and punched him in the face with a stone, which left the victim with a deviated septum.

Officers then located Sila across the street from where the incident occurred, and transported him to the TPS, where they Mirandized him. The second defendant also provided a verbal statement.

According to Sila, they were drinking for a few minutes when he saw the victim touching Va’ali’i inappropriately. Sila states that’s when Va’ali’i punched the victim in the face. Sila also said that when the victim returned back after fleeing, he [Sila] also punched the victim in the face with a closed fist. In addition, Sila told officers that he assaulted the victim because he was frustrated with his advances.

Both Va’ali’i and Tupematasi’ia were booked and processed to be confined at the TCF. Both men are charged with assault in the third degree.

Bail is set at $500 apiece.

DOMESTIC DISPUTE LEADS TO ARREST

On September 22, 2023 a woman reported she had been assaulted by her boyfriend in Pago Pago when he allegedly punched her with a closed fist several times in the face. Officers responded swiftly when they received the call about the situation and met with the victim who was waiting for them near the road across from the Asuega family’s guest house.

The victim briefed the officers on the situation, and was transported to the Fagatogo Police Station (FPS) for further investigation.

Upon arrival at the FPS, the victim provided a written statement and had her injuries documented. According to the victim, she says that the defendant, Elika Fuafualelei, assaulted her and took off from the house. But before doing so, he told the victim he was going to be at the StarKist company area, drinking and partying.

The defendant also took the victim’s cell phone and a personal bag that contained important documents and identification, which was never returned to her.

Additional reports from the victim state that she is currently residing with the defendant in Pago Pago.

The victim says they took a taxi the night before to get her boyfriend home from drinking and partying with friends, and that he was upset about that, the day of the assault. The victim states that the boyfriend repeatedly asked her why she picked him up, and she told him that she was concerned and wanted him to be safe at home.

The defendant disagreed with her actions and then retaliated by allegedly punching her in the face several times, leaving injuries such as a scratch on her nose and a cut and bruise on her lower lip. After the interview, the victim was transported back to her residence, while they continued to try and locate the suspect.

After a few hours, the suspect was found and apprehended, and was then transported to the FPS. Upon arrival, Fuafualelei was Mirandized, after which officers asked the defendant for a statement, and he refused.

The defendant was booked and processed for a 48-hour confinement at the Tafuna Correctional Facility.

Fuafualelei is charged with two criminal counts — assault in the third degree and stealing.

Bail for Fuafualelei is set at $300.