Woman assaulted with tree branch

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On July 24, 2025, a concerned citizen called the Tafuna Police Station (TPS) to report a victim who was allegedly assaulted at the Golf Course in Iiilii. An investigation later revealed that the suspect was the victim’s boyfriend.

The suspect was apprehended and charged with:

Count 1: Assault in the Second Degree, a class D felony punishable by a term of imprisonment not to exceed five years, a fine of not more than $5,000, or both imprisonment and fine; and,

Count 2: Public Peace Disturbance (DV), a class B misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to six months, a fine of $500, or both.

The defendant’s bail was set at $10,000.

Court records revealed that on July 24th, at about 7:39 a.m., a woman (later identified as the reporter) contacted the TPS and reported a female victim who was allegedly assaulted by her boyfriend at the Golf Course in Iliiili.

Upon arrival at the scene, police officers met up with the female victim at a guest house. The victim informed the officers that she couldn’t move her left arm and that she was in pain from when her boyfriend hit her several times with a tree branch.

Authorities contacted the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and they interviewed the victim while awaiting medical assistance. The victim pointed to the tree branch next to her and stated that it was used by her boyfriend to assault her. When EMS arrived and treated the victim, and she was taken to the LBJ Hospital for further treatment.

The suspect in question was familiar to the responding officers due to previous matters involving the suspect — identified as Fa’ala’a Malala.

The officers seized the tree branch as evidence and noted it as approximately four feet long and two inches wide. A medical report revealed that the victim suffered a minor swelling next to her right eye, swelling on the left side of her head and she couldn't move her left arm because it was painful.

The victim was interviewed again where she gave a verbal statement.

According to the victim, she woke up her boyfriend who was asleep in the ASPA pump station. She told him that they’re not allowed to be in the area whereas the suspect got upset and started yelling profanities at her. The suspect then walked away and headed towards a guest house next to the ASPA pump station and sat inside.

However, a few minutes later, the suspect approached her with a tree branch in his hand, which he started swinging at her about four times — striking her on her head. The victim explained that she used her left arm as a shield to cover the last three swings. Luckily, some people passing by ran over and chased the suspect away.

A witness was also interviewed and gave a verbal statement. According to the victim, he was playing golf with his friends on the golf course, when they saw the suspect strike the victim with a tree branch. He and his friends ran towards the suspect and chased him away.

Police officers went to the suspect’s relatives house in Iliili where they found and apprehended him. The suspect was transported into the police station for further investigation.

Fa’ala’a Malala was Mirandized at the station where he understood his rights and refused to make a statement.

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

Malala is identified as a 19-year-old U.S National.

The victim is a 45-year-old U.S National.