‘Justice has not been served’

A woman who lodged a complaint against a Methodist Church Reverend for uttering insulting words at her during a public meeting is not happy.

Amelia Tavaoga Iakopo says she is disappointed with the decision by the Fa’amasinoga Fesoasoani to discharge Reverend Vine Apulu without a conviction.

The decision was made by Judge Luamanuvae Paleso’o on Wednesday.

Yesterday, Mrs. Iakopo wanted her concerns to be made known publically. She believes that in the case, “justice has not been served.”

In 2013, Mrs. Iakopo, who is banker working for the Westpac Bank, was the Secretary of the Aele Fou Primary School.

“When I went into the committee, I found out that there was no money inside the school’s account,” she said. “So from the year 2013 until now, I managed to save $7,000.

“I was very strict with money because the people that were before me didn't save any money. So when I was appointed, I said to myself that I needed to make a change in the school.”

And a difference she made indeed until one day when a Committee member became unhappy. So a meeting was called.

According to Mrs. Iakopo, Aele Fou has a mayor but on the day of the meeting, he was not present.

“Rev. Vine Apulu took over and he made himself the Chairman on that day,” she said.

“He started asking questions about the funding of the school and so forth. I tried to explain everything to him but nobody gave me a chance to have a say in the meeting.

“[And] just like that, they came up with a decision to take away my position of secretary.”

According to Mrs. Iakopo, when she tried to ask “them for the reasons for their decision, that’s when Rev. Apulu uttered some very insulting words to me.”

The words were the subject of the Court case.

In Samoan, he said: “Kapugi lou guku o oe o le fafige gofokage e leai sou fagua i Aele, e leai sou koko uliuli, ga e auala mai ia Kavaoga.”

It translates to “shut your mouth you are a woman married into the village, you don't have land, you don't have black blood, and you came through your husband…”

Hurt, Mrs. Iakopo turned to the Samoa Victim Support Group for help. They referred the matter to the Police. From there, a charge was filed against the Reverend.

In Court on Wednesday, the Reverend knelt before the Judge and apologised. In the end, the Judge dismiss the charge, discharging the Reverend without a conviction.

“I am very saddened by the decision,” said Mrs. Iakopo. “I turned to the Samoa Victim Support Group and also the police for help because I didn’t have a say in the matter.

“[And] now the court has made a decision without hearing what I have to say.”

In tears, Mrs. Iakopo said the words used by the Reverend were hurtful and it made her feel very low.

“I wish the Judge was there when Rev. Apulu said those words to me,” she said. “He (judge) made his decision when he saw the Minister kneel down and apologises but he has no idea how those words have hurt me emotionally.

“I was hurt and I had to take two weeks unpaid leave from work because I wasn’t up for it, I felt so little in front of everyone on that day.

“I didn’t want to stay at my husband’s family anymore and I hid myself at home because people were mocking me.

“What the Minister said was just unbelievable and made it worse he is a servant of God. He is suppose to give words of life and wisdom and not words that will kill the person spiritually.”

Mrs. Iakopo said she is appealing the decision.

“I want justice because if not, then what will happen to those who are going through the same situation as me?” she said.

“What will they say if they hear about the decision and what the judge said before he dismissed the charges yesterday?

“What words are insulting and what words are not?

“When I heard about the decision yesterday, I wanted to die. Because the Court is a place where justice is suppose to be served but now I have lost hope in the Court and I just don’t know.”

Mrs. Iakopo also said that she wasn’t present at court on Wednesday because she was told by one of the police officers who dealt with her case that she didn’t have to be there.

“I also just found out that a summon letter was supposed to be given to me to be able to appear in Court but I didn’t get such letter,” she said.

Lastly, during Wednesday’s proceedings, the Court was told that the Pastor had already carried out a ifoga (traditional apology) to the victim, which she has accepted.

Mrs. Iakopo disagreed.

“I wasn’t at home when they came,” she said. “It was only my brother-in-law that was at home when they came over but I wasn’t there and therefore I didn’t accept any ifoga.

“They should’ve asked if I was at home but they didn’t.”