Local News
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A man from Samoa convicted of raping his partner and pointing a gun to her face is going to jail.
Kueva J. McFall, 40, appeared in court last week for sentencing. Assistant Public Defender Ryan Anderson defended, while prosecuting was Assistant Attorney General Laura...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Bail for Viane Soonalole was set at $20,000 when he was taken into custody pursuant to an arrest warrant. Soonalole made his initial appearance in District Court last Monday, April 22nd and he later waived his right to a preliminary examination.
His case is now in High...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The “probable cause” of a fire on board the US fishing vessel "Cape Cod", while at the Port of Pago Pago last year, was an “undetermined electrical ignition source near electrical distribution cabling in the lower engine room,” according to the US National Transportation...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — James Taito was released from the Territorial Correctional Facility (TCF) last Friday, after the court decided not to revoke his probation.
Taito, who was held in custody without bail for 73 days since his arrest on Feb. 18, appeared in High Court last week for a...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — One of the co-defendants in the food stamp fraud case was released from custody last Friday, after the High Court sentenced him to 7 years of probation.
Liren Zhang, a.k.a Kevin was in TCF custody since his arrest, unable to post a $450,000 surety bond.
He appeared in...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Vanessa Taamu Simanu was crowned Miss SOFIAS 2019-2020 before a sold out crowd last Friday, April 26 at Fatuoaiga Hall.
Vanessa won the majority of special awards that night, including "Best Lady SOFIAS" and "Miss Photogenic".
The event was filled with laughter, glitz,...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Sentencing for Iosua Aleki is continued to May 14, to allow attorneys and probation officers time to research further, the defendant’s previous cases.
Aleki, who has been in custody since his arrest on Feb. 12, 2019 appeared before District Court Judge Elvis P. Patea for...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A 52-year-old father of four accused of assaulting another man with a machete in 2017 has entered into a plea agreement with the government.
Vine Olataga, who has been in custody without bail since his arrest Oct. 12, 2017 was initially charged with first-degree assault...
Nuku'alofa, TONGA — Tongan police have arrested a customs official in connection with the seizure of millions of dollars worth of drugs.
Police said on Friday they had arrested a senior customs officer on Wednesday after intercepting a drug haul earlier in the week.
On Monday, police nabbed $US2.6...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The government’s case against an Asian woman accused of allegedly bringing an illegal substance, to wit, Phencyclidine (PCP) into the territory was dismissed without prejudice in High Court yesterday morning.
Thomas Jones, of RDA Law Firm represented Wen Ting Chen, while...