A 25-year-man accused of unlawfully entering a home and attempting to sexually assault a woman after he allegedly had broken into the woman’s home three time was arrested by police last week after he was pulled over during a traffic stop in the Iliili area.

Palauni Afasene is charged with one count of unlawful possession of methamphetamine (meth), an unclassified felony; 1st degree burglary and false imprisonment, both felonies, along with trespass, 3rd degree assault and private peace disturbance, both class A misdemeanors.

Afasene made his initial appearance in District Court last month where his bail was set at $15,000. The preliminary hearing (PX) is scheduled for Friday.

THE ALLEGATION

On Nov. 13, 2021 in the morning, several police officers responded to a call for a possible sexual abuse and burglary case involving a woman and her store in the Tafuna area. Police were able to meet up with the victim who told them her side of what allegedly happened.

According to the victim’s statement, she was in bed asleep when she awoke suddenly at approximately 4a.m to see the defendant (Afasene) standing over her. The victim stated to police that she knows Afasene because he lives in the same area.

The victim further told police that she also knows Afasene because he had broken into her home on two other occasions. It was the second time, which happened at the end of last time that Afasene stole food and clothing (her shopping) from the victim, while she was asleep in the house.

Two days later, the victim spoke to Afasene’s aunt about the incident and the defendant’s aunt immediately apologized to her for what had happened, and told the victim that she will pay back the money for her shopping.

The victim did not report the two alleged incidents to police as the families go to the same church and she did not want bad feelings between herself and the other family.

In this recent incident, the victim stated to police that when she recognized it was Afasene standing over her, he (Afasene) put his hand over her mouth to stop her from yelling and held her down and at the same time threatened to kill her if she screamed for help. The victim told police that Afasene tried to touch her inappropriately, but she reacted quickly and pushed him away.

According to the victim, she was able to grab her cell phone and get away from Afasene by pushing him away from her, and she then ran outside her house and called out to her neighbors for help. The elderly couple helped her, and later confirmed the victim’s account to police.

Last month, police officers who were on a traffic stop pulled over a pickup truck for speeding. The driver of the vehicle was later identified as the defendant in this case. Police immediately arrested Afasene pursuant to an outstanding warrant from the court.

Before he was transported to the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) for questioning, he was patted down for weapon or drugs. During a body search, police found a glass pipe in his pocket containing white crystalline substance, which was later tested and the result was positive for meth.

When questioned about the incident, Afasene admitted to police that he broke into the victim’s home twice before he allegedly entered her home last month uninvited. Afasene also told police that he stole the victim’s shopping, which was on the counter inside the house.

When questioned about the glass pipe containing meth found in his possession, Afasene said he bought the glass pipe from a friend in Vaitogi.

MIKA AVIU

A 38-year-old man from Samoa who sexually assaulted his 26-year-old neighbor has entered into a plea agreement with the government, and he will be sentenced next month.

Mika Aviu, who has a criminal record in District Court involving alcohol, was initially charged with first degree sexual abuse, a class D felony; and two misdemeanors: trespass and third degree assault.

Under a plea agreement with the government, Aviu — who has been held on $10,000 bail since his arrest on Aug. 21st, 2020 — pled guilty to first degree sexual assault. The remaining charges were dismissed.

With his guilty plea, Aviu admits that he entered the victim’s house without permission on the night in question, and found her sleeping on the floor in the living room. Aviu said he walked towards the victim, and inappropriately touched her. The victim awoke as the defendant was on top of her and pushed Aviu away and swore at him, telling him to get out.

The victim locked the house after Aviu left and called police for assistance.

The victim, a single mother of two, told police that on the night of the incident, Aviu was invited by her family members to her son’s birthday party, which was held at her sister’s home — next door.

At around 12:42 a.m, the victim went to her house to get something to eat. She fell asleep on the floor and woke up when she felt a tickling sensation on her chest area. When she opened her eyes, the victim said she saw Aviu on top of her, touching her inappropriately.

The victim said that before Aviu left her house, he apologized to her and asked her not to call the cops. Aviu was arrested that same day.

According to the victim, this is not the first time Aviu has done this to her. During one family gathering a few months prior, Aviu, who was invited over by her brother, touched her inappropriately.