Assault occurs during disturbance over alleged missing money

By Samoa News staff reporters@samoanews.com Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On August 19, 2026, a concerned family member called the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) and reported an alleged assault in Leone. The suspect was arrested and charged with: Count 1: Private Peace Disturbance (DV), a class C misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to fifteen days, a fine of not more than $300, or both imprisonment and fine; and, Count 2: Assault in the Third Degree (DV), a class A misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to one year, a fine not to exceed $1,000, or both. The defendant was held without bail. According to the court records, police officers from the TPS responded to a reported disturbance at approximately 8:30 p.m. after receiving information about an assault. Upon arrival, the officers encountered the victim outside the residence. The victim reportedly had a laceration on the left side of his forehead. Officers asked whether he needed emergency medical treatment, but he declined EMS assistance. The victim told police that the incident involved Filemu Amiga, who was identified as his father-in-law and the owner of the residence. Police also learned that Mr. Amiga had allegedly been drinking earlier in the evening and had started a disturbance inside the home. Based on information provided to officers, the incident began after the victim and his wife returned home from work. They reportedly went directly into their bedroom, where they lay on the bed. Amiga allegedly opened the bedroom door and confronted them about missing money — approximately $4,000 — that he believed was missing. The victim and his wife denied knowing anything about the money and told Amiga that they had just arrived home. According to the police report, Amiga continued accusing them of taking the money and calling them liars. The victim later left the bedroom to smoke a cigarette. When he returned inside, Amiga allegedly demanded to know where his money was. The victim reportedly did not respond, and Amiga became angry and threw a teacup at him. The teacup allegedly struck the victim in the forehead, causing the reported laceration. The victim also told officers that Amiga threatened or attempted to frighten him with a machete during the confrontation. The victim noted that Amiga used profanity and accused him of lying about the missing money. Moreover, a witness told police that she was inside the bedroom when she heard a loud noise coming from the living room, similar to glass breaking on the floor. She went outside to investigate and allegedly saw the suspect throw the teacup at the victim. She also observed that the victim had been injured in the forehead. Police documented damage to the resident from the incident and the victim’s injury with photographs. The police report stated that Amiga had allegedly pushed or damaged the windows in the house during the disturbance. The victim reportedly told officers that the confrontation was not an isolated incident. He stated that similar problems had occurred previously but that he had not reported them because of the suspect’s age, his respect for his wife, and the fact that Amiga regularly remained at home to watch the children while the victim and his wife went to work. Officers escorted Amiga to the police unit and transported him to the TPS for further investigation. Amiga was Mirandized, and he acknowledged that he understood his rights and agreed to provide a statement. During the interview, he reportedly admitted that he became angry after the victim responded that he had not taken any money and had just returned home from work. He also admitted to throwing a teacup at the victim and attempting to scare the victim with a machete. Following the interview, Amiga was booked and confined at the Tafuna Correctional Facility. The defendant is identified as a 67-year-old citizen of Samoa. The affidavit was filed in the District Court on August 21, 2026. As with all criminal cases, the allegations outlined in court filings remain accusations at this stage, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. [Editor’s Note: An affidavit is a written statement confirmed by oath or affirmation for use as evidence in court. It is not a court decision.] Section: Local News Tags: court report
2026-09-03 18:22:23