Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A 45-year-old man who was arrested during a traffic stop two weeks ago is now charged with violating local drug laws when illegal drugs were allegedly found in his possession. The man, Faamanu Malaki told police that he bought drugs from the area called “Le Filifili” for his own personal use.

Malaki made his initial appearance in District Court last week.

His bail is set at $5,000 surety bond.

Malaki is now charged with one count of unlawful possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine and one count of unlawful possession of methamphetamine, both unclassified felonies, punishable by a term of imprisonment of not less than five nor more than ten years and a fine of not less than $5,000 nor more than $20,000, or both.

Preliminary hearing is set for Friday, June 26 at 1p.m

THE AFFIDAVIT

According to the government’s case, it was about 3:32 p.m on Thursday, June 4th, while three police officers were patrolling in Pava’ia’i heading east, they observed an oncoming vehicle driving recklessly. Officers turned around and proceeded to chase after the vehicle, which turned into a company’s parking lot area in Pava’ia’i.

Officers arrived and observed the driver standing outside of his vehicle acting as if he was trying to fix it. Police approached the driver who identified himself to police officers as Faamanu Malaki, the defendant in this matter.

When asked what he was doing, the defendant responded saying he was trying to fix his vehicle and that something was wrong with the right tire. When asked for his driver’s license, the defendant stated that he had a driver’s license but did not have it in his possession. He also told police that all of his photo ID’s were at home.

Officers ran the defendant’s name through the driver’s license system and as a result, the system could not locate any records indicating the name given by the defendant.

Officers informed the defendant of the discovery but the defendant argued that he had a driver’s license. Officers then informed the defendant that the vehicle would be impounded because he was operating it without a driver’s license. The driver continued to argue with the officers, while walking to the passenger’s side of the vehicle.

It was at that time when officers observed the defendant reach inside of his vehicle, grab a small black bag and a cell phone. The officers clearly observed the defendant reach into his pocket and then toss something away from him. The officers discovered that the item tossed out by the defendant was a small baggie.

When the two officers attempted to arrest the defendant, the defendant resisted.

The officers then called for backup and were able to place the defendant under arrest and transport him to the Tafuna Police Substation for questioning. The matter was transferred to investigators from the DPS Vice and Narcotic Unit to handle.

The small stamp-sized baggie the defendant threw on the ground allegedly contained white crystalline substance.

Police conducted a body search on the defendant and allegedly found one hand rolled joint inside his left pocket.

The white crystalline substance was tested and turned out positive for methamphetamine. The green leafy substance was also tested and turned out positive for marijuana.

When questioned about the illegal drugs found in his possession, the defendant immediately confessed to investigators and stated that the methamphetamine and marijuana belonged to him, and that he had purchased it from an unknown man in the area called Logotala Hill, a.k.a “Le Filifili”.

The defendant further stated to police that he often purchased meth and marijuana from Logotala Hill and that he never got more than $50 worth of methamphetamine and marijuana at a time.