Former DPS cop "desperate for money" pleads guilty to corruption

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The former DPS officer charged with one count of public servant acceding to corruption has pled guilty.

Faauma Malo, 42, has been out on a $5,000 surety bond.

He appeared in High Court yesterday morning for a Change of Plea hearing, where he was represented by Public Defender Michael White, while prosecuting was Assistant Attorney General Christy Dunn.

The charge against Malo is a class D felony that carries a jail term of up to 5 years, a fine of up to $5,000 or both.

With his guilty plea, Malo admits that between Apr. 1 and May 31, 2017 he solicited money from Tony Poe for his benefit.

Poe filed a complaint against Malo on Sept. 18, 2017.

According to Poe, sometime between April and May of 2017 while employed at Public Works, he drove a government vehicle transporting equipment for drop off at the Fagatogo wharf. When he arrived, there was nowhere to park so he parked in front of the Marine Patrol Office.

A Marine Patrol unit came from behind and directed him to move forward so they could utilize the area. Poe complied but in the course, he struck an unoccupied vehicle and cracked its taillight.

Poe told police that Malo approached him and told him to back up his vehicle and park between the museum and the Fire Station, so no one would know what happened. Poe said Malo then asked him if he wanted a ticket or to be forgiven. Malo allegedly told Poe that the ticket would cost him $400 but he would be forgiven for $100.

Poe said he told Malo he would pay the $100 when he gets his paycheck.

A few months later, Malo approached Poe at the Fagatogo Market and told him that he now owed him $1,000 because he failed to pay the initial $100 they agreed to.

Later on, Malo showed up at Poe's new workplace in Fagaalu and told him that because he didn't pay him $1,000 he now owes him $2,000 and he has to pay the full amount or he will be thrown in jail.

The government says Malo continued to call Poe at work, demanding the money.

When questioned by police, Poe’s co-worker said Officer Malo stopped by their office asking for Poe’s cell phone number. When she told Malo that Poe doesn't have a cell phone, Malo asked for their boss’s phone number, and told the witness to tell her boss to hold Poe's paycheck.

According to the witness, on one occasion, Malo came dressed in a police uniform, riding in a police unit, asking for Poe, and she told him he wasn't there. Later that same day, Malo called the office. She said the visits and phone calls were frequent.

Another one of Poe's co-workers told police that Malo stopped by one day with his son, asking for Poe, saying he was there to arrest Poe because he owed him money.

In a statement to police, Malo admitted that there was an incident involving an accident, referred to by Poe. He said he told Poe that there were no witnesses and in order for him to be forgiven, he had to give him $100 for not issuing him a traffic citation.

He said later he met up with Poe and when he asked about the money, Poe assured him that he would pay it.

Malo said he told Poe that since he already repaired the damages to his cousin’s vehicle, he must pay him $1,000 but he later approached Poe at his workplace and told him he owed him $2,000

Malo admitted to police that he lied about repairing his cousin’s vehicle. He said he never used his own money to pay for the repairs, and he confessed to using his boating safety citation book to manipulate Poe.

Malo said he never received any money from Poe, but admitted that he was struggling financially to support his family so he abused his position as a police officer and used the opportunity to solicit money from Poe.

He said he was very desperate to get the $2,000

Malo will be sentenced May 31st.