A man sent back to Samoa from the United States of America to face charges over the alleged rape of four students with special needs has been given time to find a lawyer.
That was the outcome of yesterday’s brief Court appearance for 37-year-old, Vaiaoga Leatuvao. The accused fronted up before his Honour, the Chief Justice Patu Tiava’asu’e Falefatu Sapolu.
He asked the Court for legal aid.
The request was accepted and the accused has been given until 18 August to find legal aid.
Yesterday, the Prosecutor, Precious Chang, of the Attorney General’s Office, asked the Court to keep the accused in custody.
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She reminded that Leatuvao had left the Samoan jurisdiction when he was supposed to have appeared in Court.
She told the Court that the Police had to find him in America before he was sent back with assistance from the American authorities.
His Honour Chief Justice Patu also sought more information from Ms. Chang in relation to the number of alleged victims involved. The Chief Justice said this was important because Leatuvao faces 23 charges of a sexual nature.
“Twenty three charges is very serious,” he said.
The matter was then adjourned without a plea so that the accused could find legal aid.
Meanwhile, he is being kept in custody.
According to information provided by the United States government, Leatuvao, went to America on a six-month visitor's visa in September 2012.
In July 2013, the Samoan government charged Leatuvao with raping four female students at a Samoan school for disabled children.
Leatuvao, who was still in Seattle on the now-expired visa, was arrested last August for immigration violations. He was sent back from Sea-Tac
Airport, escorted by two United States government agents.
Attorney General, Aumua Ming Leung Wai, confirmed that Leatuvao had been wanted by the local authorities.
He “the said male had left Samoa” several years ago.
Since then, “the Office of the Attorney General with the Samoan Police had worked with relevant United States authorities for the return of this male.”
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