Man arrested for alleged assault of his mother and sister

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On July 22, 2025, a woman walked into the Fagatogo Police Station (FPS) and reported her brother who allegedly assaulted her and her mother.

The suspect was later apprehended and charged with:

Count 1: Assault in the Third Degree (DV), a class A misdemeanor punishable by a term of imprisonment for up to one year, a fine of $1,000, or both imprisonment and fine; and,

Count 2: Private Peace Disturbance (DV), a class C misdemeanor punishable by a term of imprisonment for up to fifteen days, a fine of $300, or both.

The defendant’s bail was set at $300.

According to the court affidavit, on July 22nd, at around 9:17 a.m, a woman (later identified as the reporter) walked into the FPS to report her brother, Bernard Muliau (later identified as the suspect) for assaulting her and her mother.

An investigation into the incident revealed that threw an iron and hit his mother’s leg, and threw an electric fan at the reporter, hitting her hand. He also yelled out profanities in Samoan.

Police officers went to serve the matter, while the reporter was interviewed at the police station.

According to the reporter, she heard her brother yelling out profanities at their mother. She went to see what was going on and she saw him and their mother (victim) arguing. The reporter that there were three minors present and none of them were injured.

In addition, the reporter gave a written statement and further stated that she also heard her brother telling their mother to get out of the house. He then threw an iron and the electric fan which injured her and her mother. In response, she pushed her brother aside and yelled at him to stop.

The officers proceeded to look for the suspect and later apprehended him from their home. During apprehension, the suspect refused to cooperate and repeatedly yelled profanities at the officers.

The mother was later interviewed and she verbally stated that “she was tired of her son’s attitude,” noting that this is not the first time the suspect has done this. The victim echoed what her daughter had reported about her son’s actions during the incident.

No physical injuries were observed on the victim and she also refused medical attention.

Mr. Muliau was Mirandized to which he understood and refused to make a statement.

He was later booked and confined at the Tafuna Correctional Facility to await the next available sitting of the District Court.

The defendant is identified as a 22-year-old U.S National.