Woman alleges her cheating boyfriend punched her in the mouth

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — According to an affidavit filed on December 8, 2025 in the District Court, a woman called the Leone Police Substation (LPS) requesting assistance after her boyfriend allegedly assaulted her.

The suspect was later charged with:

Count 1: Assault in the Third Degree (DV), a class A misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to one year, a fine not to exceed $1,000, or both imprisonment and fine;

Count 2: Trespass (DV), a class B misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to six months, a fine not more than $500, or both; and,

Count 3: Private Peace Disturbance (DV), a class C misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to fifteen days, a fine not to exceed $300, or both.

The defendant was held without bail.

On Dec. 5, 2025, at about 12:07 p.m., a woman (later identified as the victim) contacted the LPS regarding her boyfriend (the suspect), who had allegedly punched her in the mouth.

Authorities responded to the call and, upon arrival at the scene, they met with the victim, who briefed them about what had happened. Afterwards the officers proceeded to locate the suspect but were unsuccessful.

The officers then escorted the victim to the station and contacted Emergency Medical Services (EMS) for medical assistance. EMS conducted a medical check-up of the victim. EMS advised the victim to put ice on her bruised neck.

According to the EMS's assessment, the victim sustained bruises on her neck and below her facial area, but were observed as not severe.

After the victim's medical assessment, she was interviewed and provided both verbal and written statements.

The victim stated that she went jogging with her cousins around 7:00 p.m, and when she came back home, her boyfriend (suspect), later identified as Paulo Jr. Fa'afetai was sleeping in her room. She told the officers that the suspect was not welcome at their home anymore because he had cheated on her.

The victim further explained that she told the suspect to leave her room and her home. However, the suspect refused saying that she had no right to chase him away from her room, and got up and walked out of the room, slamming the door.

She told him not to slam the door as he doesn't have money to fix it if it broke. This got the suspect angry, and he went back into the room and started choking her. He also punched her several times in the face, but she was able to defend herself by covering her face.

After the attack, the suspect made threatening remarks, stating "to go kill herself".

The victim was later escorted back to her residence in Futiga and was told to contact the police if the suspect returned.

Later that day, the victim contacted the LPS and informed officers that the suspect was at a restaurant in Utulei, his workplace. The officers responded to the call and proceeded to the suspect's workplace. Locating him at the back of the restaurant, police informed him of the said matter. He was later handcuffed and transported to the LPS.

Upon arrival at the LPS, the suspect was Mirandized, in which he understood and agreed to provide a statement.

According to the suspect, Paulo Fa'afetai, he slapped his girlfriend (victim) twice in the face because she struck him with an electric fan. After beating her, he then left.

The suspect was 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 citizen of Samoa.

[Editor’s Note: An affidavit is a written statement confirmed by oath or affirmation for use as evidence in court. It is not a court decision. Under local law, defendants are considered innocent until proven guilty by the court. ra]