A schizophrenic man who burnt the national flag was discharged in the District Court on Wednesday.
Fa’atuai Paepae, of Safata, pleaded not guilty to a charge of burning the flag in front of the government building in April 2012.
In Court, a medical report confirmed that Paepae suffers from schizophrenia. The condition is a mental disorder often characterized by abnormal social behavior and failure to recognize what is real.
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According to the experts, common symptoms include false beliefs, unclear or confused thinking, auditory hallucinations, reduced social engagement and emotional expression, and inactivity.
District Court Judge, her Honour Mata Tuatagaloa presided over the matter.
On Wednesday, the Police asked the Court for the charge to be withdrawn because of the defendant’s state of mind. Prosecuting was
Richard Ah Ching also referred to the medical report, saying the man had refused to take his medication.
Judge Tuatagaloa accepted the application.
But she warned Paepae.
“Fa’atuai we will not proceed with the matter today as I have discussed with the police to have it withdrawn because you have a mental disorder,” she said.
“But the next time you are brought in, you won’t be given a second chance.”
On 12th April 2012, Paepae walked up to the flagpole in front of the government building. He pulled it down, lit it up and then raised it again.
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