Ads by Google Ads by Google

Yet another immigration SNAFU leads to man sitting at TCF since last July

Court Report logo
blue@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The pretrial conference for a man who appeared in District Court last Thursday morning was continued.

The court has been informed that Siliga Tulituli is an overstayer who has been in custody at the Territorial Correctional Facility (TCF) in Tafuna for 167 days — since July this year — and he cannot be sent back to Samoa because of issues with his travel documents.

Samoa News understands that Tulituli's sponsor, who is from Nuuuli, has been off island for quite some time and although Tulituli's ticket back to the independent state can be paid for, using the money that was put up for his bond, there is still the issue of who is going to pay for Tulituli's travel documents.

Tulituli is not legally married, but in earlier court proceedings, he said his wife is from here and they have two kids. The Immigration Office has no record of a marriage certificate.

The defendant was arrested earlier this year in August, charged with three criminal offenses. During court proceedings yesterday, his attorney, Assistant Public Defender Anna Wells indicated that Tulituli has agreed to plead guilty to public peace disturbance and in return, the other two charges would be dismissed.

But when Judge Sunia asked Tulituli if this is what he has agreed to, Tulituli said he did not understand.

Judge Sunia then continued the matter to today, to give counsel Wells time to consult with her staff translator, who was not in court.

Wells said her client wants to depart the territory but Samoa News understands that nothing can be done until the Immigration Office receives a 'Judgment and Sentence' from the court.

Tulituli's immigration status has resulted in him being in and out of court since his arrest.

During a prior hearing, he mentioned that his wife has already filed papers with the Immigration Office to renew his status. But as of yesterday, nothing was on file with the Immigration Office.

Judge Sunia continued the matter for last Friday, with the order that the PD's translator be present in court.