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Leone man arrested and charged for drug possession

American Samoa District Court building
ausage@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICA SAMOA — A 33-year-old man from Leone, a repeat offender, is in court again for another violation.

Faamamafa Galea’i, who is on probation, was arrested last week on drug possession allegations. He made his initial appearance in District Court yesterday morning, where Judge Elvis P. Patea established bond at $5,000

If he posts bond, Galea’i is ordered to pay an outstanding fine of $850, remain law abiding, not leave or attempt to leave the territory without prior written permission from the court, and he is to surrender his travel documents to the government’s attorney.

Furthermore, he is not to make any direct or indirect contact with the government’s witnesses.

Galea’i is scheduled to appear in court this Friday at 1p.m for a preliminary examination.

According to the government’s case, Galea’i's vehicle was pulled over by police during a traffic stop last Friday around 5.30 p.m., for failure to stop at a stop sign in Tafuna.

Police say they noticed movement inside the vehicle when they approached Galea’i, who looked ‘nervous’ and had his left hand inside his pants pocket.

When officers asked what was inside his pocket, Galea’i paused for a moment before allegedly saying, “o le pepa ma le paipa.” (it’s a paper and a pipe).

Officers carried out a body search and found a stamp sized baggie inside Galea’i’s pants pocket, containing a white crystalline substance which later tested positive for meth.

Also inside Galea’i’s pocket was a glass pipe containing a white crystalline substance which also tested positive for meth.

When asked about the items, Galea’i told police that he had just bought the stuff from a friend. He did not reveal his friend’s identity.