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Court report details multiple drug charges

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ausage@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A man allegedly found with a glass pipe containing methamphetamine (meth) inside his vehicle when police pulled him over for a traffic violation two months ago, was arrested and charged last month.

Ulua’ipou Malo made his initial appearance in Court last month.

He is charged with one count of unlawful possession of meth and one count of unlawful possession of marijuana, both felonies.

Bail is set at $5,000.

During the initial appearance proceedings, Malo’s defense attorney informed the court that his client wished to exercise his right to a preliminary examination (PX), which is now scheduled for next week.

According to the government’s case, Malo’s vehicle was stopped on Mar. 23, 2022 for speeding in front of Tui’s Market area (Malaeimi-Mapusaga area).

When asked for his driver’s license, Malo told police he had forgotten his driver’s license at home, and no other form of photo identification was presented.

At that point, police informed Malo that they were going to impound his vehicle because he didn’t have a driver’s license and that he was also being transported to the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) for further investigation.

Before Malo was transported to the TPS, police conducted a body search on him and police discovered a hand rolled cigarette containing a green leafy substance inside his rear pocket.

The search then moved to the vehicle where police discovered a black pouch between the driver’s seat and the passenger’s seat. Inside the black pouch was a glass pipe containing white powder.

The white powder was later tested and the result was positive for meth. The green leafy substance was also tested and the result was positive for THC, the active compound in marijuana.

After being Mirandized, Malo waived his rights and agreed to make a statement to police.

According to Malo, he was shocked when cops flagged him down and informed him that he was speeding. He also apologized to investigators for his actions after saying that it was uncle who gave him the stuff (drugs) as part of the payment for helping him fix his car. He said he made the wrong choice of accepting the stuff his uncle gave him.

Malo was booked and confined at the Territorial Correctional Facility (TCF).

SETI VALOAGA

Seti Valoaga is now in custody after being arrested last month on assault and unlawful possession charges. Valoaga made his initial appearance in Court last month.

He is charged with one count of 2nd-degree assault, one count of unlawful possession of marijuana, one count of unlawful possession of meth, all felonies, along with one count of stealing, a class A misdemeanor.

Bail is set at $10,000.

The government alleges that on Mar. 13, 2022, the TPS received a call from a couple in the Tafuna area seeking police assistance about a possible peace disturbance and assault incident in their neighborhood. Several police officers responded to the call.

Upon arriving at the scene, officers observed a crowd of people standing at the side of a store in the area while other people were trying to stop two males from assaulting another man.

The two males were later identified as Seti Valoaga, the defendant in this matter, and his friend, Anthony Iese.Police took control of the situation before interviewing witnesses who were at the scene.

EMS crew arrived and offered medical assistance for the victim while the two suspects were placed inside a police unit and later transported to the TPS for further investigation.

According to the couple who reported the incident, they were sitting in front of their house when they saw a black SUV pull up at the side of the road near the store and saw two male individuals exit the black SUV. Moments later, a white four door vehicle pulled onto the side of the road right next to the black SUV and the male driver of the white vehicle also exited  his vehicle and walked towards the two males who were standing at the front of the black SUV.

After a few moments, the couple saw the two males from the black SUV assault the man from the white vehicle. That’s when the couple contacted the TPS for assistance.

Before the two suspects were transported to the TPS for questioning, they were patted down for weapons or illegal drugs.

Nothing was found on Iese, however, when police searched Valosaga, they discovered a glass pipe containing a white crystalline substance and a stamp-sized baggie containing a green leafy substance.

The white crystalline substance was later tested and the result turned out positive for meth; while, the green leafy substance  tested positive THC, the active compound in marijuana.

Iese and Valosaga were placed in separate rooms for questioning.

According to Iese, Valosaga is his cousin and he (Valoaga) asked him if he (Iese) would drive him to his friend’s house in Iliili to pick up his money.

Iese, who is the owner of the black SUV went with Valosaga to Iliili where Valosaga went to an abandoned house and met up with a man. According to Iese, he believes that is the time when Valosaga got his drugs.

On their way back home, Valoaga asked him to stop the vehicle on the side of the road, next to a store, because he wanted to speak to an old friend.

Iese pulled his vehicle over on the side of the road. Moments later, a man driving a white car pulled up and parked his vehicle next to his black SUV. He saw the man exit his car and walk over to where they were standing. The man was later identified as the victim in this case.

He heard Valosaga question the victim about outstanding money the victim owed Valoaga. Valoaga then punched the victim in the face causing him to fall down on the roadside, hitting his head on the concrete.

Iese told police he did not assault the victim, but instead, he was trying to pull Valoaga away from the victim.

Police interviewed another eyewitness who was standing at the store parking lot. According to the eyewitness, the male with long hair threw the first punch at the victim, before the second male punched the victim twice, causing the victim to fall down.

The male with long hair was Iese.

Police also interviewed the victim two days after the incident. According to the victim, both Iese and Valoaga assaulted him, but it was Valoaga who caused serious injuries to his head and his facial area.

Valoaga and Iese were charged separately by the government.

Iese is charged with one count of 3rd-degree assault and PPD, both misdemeanors. He was released on his own recognizance after his initial appearance last month. His next court appearance is next month.

TULIMA IOSEFA

A man accused of disturbing the peace inside a Malaeimi store is now being charged with illegal drug possession after police searched his vehicle and found two small stamp sized baggies containing marijuana.

Tulima Iosefa made his initial appearance in Court last month.

Iosefa is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana, a felony punishable by 5-10 years in jail, a fine of up to $20,000; and 3 misdemeanors: public peace disturbance; driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI) and third-degree assault.

Bail is set at $10,000 and the preliminary examination is next week.

THE CASE

A male individual who witnessed a verbal argument between two men outside of a store in Malaeimi last month contacted police for assistance, after the driver of a red pickup truck allegedly pushed another man and punched him in the face.

Police arrived at the scene and noticed a crowd forming in front of the store, while a man was sitting on the ground, blocking the other side of the parking lot.

As cops approached the crowd, a red pickup truck that was parked in front of the store quickly pulled out and left the scene, heading west towards the American Samoa Community College (ASCC) area. Eyewitnesses immediately informed officers that the driver of the red pickup truck that had just left was the man who punched the victim.

According to the caller, he heard the driver of the red pickup truck (the defendant) tell the other man (the victim) not to disrespect his uncle again.

The witness said in the middle of the verbal argument, the victim pushed the driver of the red pickup truck towards the side of his vehicle and told the driver of the red truck that he has no business shouting at him and his uncle.

The witness then saw the driver punch the victim once in the face, causing the victim to fall to the ground. The driver allegedly kicked the victim twice in the facial area while he was on the ground.

A police unit was able to locate the red pickup truck on the Pavaiai road and immediately pulled it over. The driver was later identified as Tulima Iosefa, the defendant. Iosefa admitted to police that it was he who assaulted the man in front of a store in Malaeimi because he disrespect his uncle during a church meeting.

Iosefa told police this is not the first time this man (victim) yelled at his uncle and called him different names.

During a body search, police found in Iosefa’s pants pocket two small stamp sized baggies containing green leafy substance which later tested positive for THC, the active component in marijuana (weed).

When asked about the weed, Iosefa told police he bought the two small plastic baggies containing marijuana from an old friend in Vaitogi for his own personal use.

Iosefa further admitted that he had consumed alcohol prior to the incident in Malaeimi.

Police spoke to the victim at the LBJ Hospital where he was treated for minor injuries to his left eye. According to the victim, he was walking inside the store in Malaeimi when Iosefa approached him and told him in a loud voice not to disrespect his uncle again.

He also told him that if he does that again, he would kill him and his family.

The victim told Iosefa he didn’t know what he was talking about, but if it’s something between him (victim) and the suspect’s uncle, he has no business at all to come and talk to him like this.

On his way to his vehicle, the victim said Iosefa followed him and continued to harass him about the same issue. It was then that he pushed Iosefa and told him to shut up and go home before he called police. That’s when Iosefa punched him in the eye, causing him to fall down before he kicked him twice in the facial area while he was on the ground.