Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On March 16, 2025, a victim of an alleged assault called the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) and reported that her husband had assaulted her at the Pavaia’i Elementary School.

The defendant was later charged with:

Count 1: Private Peace Disturbance (DV), a class C misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to fifteen days, a fine of not more than $300, or both imprisonment and fine; and,

Count 2: Assault in the Third Degree (DV), a class A misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to one year, a fine of not more than $1,000, or both.

The defendant was held without bail.

(Samoa News has withheld the names of those involved to protect the identity of the minors and victim involved in this case.)

According to the court affidavit, at approximately 2:49 p.m., a woman contacted the TPS to report a domestic disturbance involving her husband on the Pava’ia’i Elementary School campus.

The caller stated that it was a physical altercation, but expressed confusion as to what had caused her husband’s anger.

A police unit was dispatched to the scene. While officers were en route, the victim contacted the station again and advised that her husband had already left the area.

Upon arrival at approximately 3:14 p.m., responding officers made contact with the victim, who provided a verbal statement regarding the incident.

According to the victim, her husband had arrived at the school to pick her up along with their two children after school hours. She stated that she was driving the vehicle when her husband suddenly questioned her about money that her brother had allegedly given him. The victim claimed she did not understand what her husband was referring to, which appeared to escalate the situation.

The victim reported that her husband began punching her in the shoulder while she was driving and at one point attempted to strike her with a can of insect spray. As she tried to defend herself, she stated that she nearly lost control of the vehicle and almost collided with trees on the school campus. However, she was able to safely stop the vehicle and exited with the spray can in her possession.

The situation further escalated outside the vehicle when both parties engaged in a physical confrontation. The victim stated that she heard her children crying inside the vehicle, prompting her to stop fighting and turn her attention to them.

She re-entered the vehicle and drove away with her children after her husband attempted to take the car keys. She told officers that she informed her husband she would contact police before leaving the scene.

The victim also reported that this was not the first instance of domestic violence in their relationship, stating that similar incidents had been ongoing for some time. She expressed concern for her children’s well-being and requested that her husband be removed from their residence, noting that they share six children together and she no longer wanted them exposed to such behavior.

Officers observed visible injuries on the victim, including a bump on the right side of her forehead and a minor scratch on her left pinky finger. Photographs of the injuries were taken as part of the investigation.

As officers were preparing to leave the victim’s residence, the suspect arrived at the scene. Officers approached him and reportedly heard him state that the incident was his wife’s fault, accusing her of lying to him.

He was immediately apprehended and transported to the TPS for further processing.

After being advised of his constitutional rights, which he acknowledged understanding, the suspect agreed to provide a verbal statement.

According to the suspect, his anger stemmed from an ongoing dispute over money allegedly given by the victim’s brother.

He stated that each Friday, the victim’s brother typically provides a set amount of money, but on the previous Friday, March 13, 2026, he received less than expected.

The suspect claimed he counted the money multiple times and believed the amount was incorrect. When he confronted his wife about the discrepancy later that evening, he alleged that she recounted the money and arrived at a different total, which further fueled his suspicion and frustration. He admitted that he remained angry in the days that followed and brought up the issue again while picking up his wife and children from school.

The suspect alleged that the argument escalated when his wife exited the vehicle and confronted him. He claimed that she attempted to throw the insect spray at him but missed, and that during the altercation he fell and she began striking him. He stated that he eventually fled the scene and sought refuge at a nearby store across from the school.

Following the interview, the suspect was booked and confined at the Tafuna Correctional Facility, where he remains pending the next sitting of the District Court.

Authorities also attempted to locate the can of insect spray reportedly used during the incident in the vicinity of Pava’ia’i Elementary School; however, those efforts were unsuccessful.

The defendant is identified as a 63-year-old citizen of Vanuatu.

The affidavit was filed in the District Court on March 18, 2026.

[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.]