(Original title of this story was in error.  Samoa News apologizes.)

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A man serving a 20 month detention as a condition of his 5-year probation after being convicted for sexually abusing a female student was released from custody last Friday after Chief Justice Michael Kruse granted a recommendation by the Probation Office along with submissions from both parties.

Ray Petelo, a.k.a Raymond Romeo Semou Petelo appeared in Court last Friday for his Probation review hearing. He was represented by private attorney, Marcellus Talaimalo Uiagalelei, while prosecuting the case was Assistant Attorney General Laura Garvey.

When the case was called, defense attorney, Uiagalelei asked the court for an early release for his client and to let him continue on probation. Uiagalelei stated that according to the Probation Office’s recommendation contained in their report, his client is a good inmate who has never violated any rules while serving his period of detention of 12 months now.

The court wanted the defendant’s attorney to explain in what way his client is a good inmate and not a danger to society.

Uiagalelei said his client is truly remorseful for what he did and he now realizes something that he did not realize before — the age of the victim.

He further stated to the court that he spoke to his client’s father and the victim’s mother and both of them are not opposed for his client being released from custody.

Prosecutor, Garvey told the court that after reviewing the report prepared by Probation, it appear that the defendant is doing well with probation. She also spoke to the victim’s mother regarding the defendant’s early release and she’s not opposed to it.

According to the government, the victim’s mother stated that ever since this incident, the victim is moving forward with her life and she's ready to move to the mainland to attend college there once the borders are open again.

After reviewing counsel’s submissions and the recommendation by Probation, the court ordered that the balance of detention of period for Petelo to be stayed until further order of the court, and the defendant was released from custody forthwith.

All other conditions of probation still apply.