Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A man accused of stealing a pickup truck from a home in Happy Valley, Tafuna, in was arrested by police when the stolen vehicle was seen speeding on the public highway.

Maselusi Tevaga made his initial appearance in Court last month.

Tevaga is charged with 1st degree-burglary and stealing, both class C felonies, punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to sevens years, a $5,000 fine or, pursuant to A.S.C.A 46.2101, a fine equal to twice the amount of gain from the commission of said crime, up to a maximum of $20,000, or both such fine and imprisonment.

Bail is set at $10,000.

THE CASE

The government claims that on Feb. 10, 2022 around 10:35p.m, the Central Police Station received a phone call from the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS), informing them that a young woman had called the 911 Emergency line to report her vehicle had been stolen from her home in Happy Valley while she was at her parents house in Fogagogo.

The woman further stated to police that she suspects it’s her daughter’s ex-husband that stole her vehicle.

After speaking to the victim, investigators put out an All Points Police Bulletin for the vehicle.

According to the victim’s statement to police, she had personal items in her vehicle, including laptop, a backpack containing clothes and shoes, iPad and cash.

The vehicle was recovered the same evening, when it was stopped for speeding, heading east. A police officer, who stopped the vehicle, said she cited the driver for speeding.The driver was identified as Maselusi Tevaga, the defendant in this matter.

However, at the time of the stop, the officer was unaware that an All Points Police Bulletin was out on the vehicle. When she became aware of the report, afterward, she, along with other officers proceeded to a home in Vaitogi where they had dropped off the vehicle.

Police visited Tevaga’s home and asked him if he could come to the TPS to discuss something important and he agreed, going to the TPS on his own, where investigators spoke with him regarding the stolen vehicle.

After being Mirandized, Tevaga agreed to make a statement to investigators.

According to the defendant’s statement, he was angry to learn that his ex-wife was dating another man, who is his best friend. He also asked his ex-wife to pay back his money she borrowed for her father’s funeral, but she refused. That’s when he made up his mind to do something bad to return the favor.

Tevaga further admits that the vehicle he stole belongs to his ex-wife’s mother.