76-year-old man facing nine criminal charges, arraigned in the High Court

A 76-year-old man facing nine criminal charges was arraigned in the High Court this week. He is facing three counts of sexual abuse first degree; felonious restraint; three charges of endangering the welfare of a child and two counts of false imprisonment.

The incident against Samuelu Amituanaʻi was reported by a school principal regarding one of her students, being sexually abused in her home.

Police responded and took the minor to the station along with her teacher and the mother was contacted. It is alleged the mother was advised by the Principal on May 3rd, regarding the incident prior to reaching out to the Police, and warned her to take action.

According to the government’s case, two days later the victim continued to report to the principal what the defendant did to her.

The ten-year-old told Police that the defendant would touch her inappropriately on several occasions, in her bedroom, in the shower and when she was making the defendant’s bed in their sitting room.

The defendant told Police that he was in the living room when the 10-year-old took off her shirt and he reacted and touched her in a sexual manner.

During the interrogation, the Police noted that the defendant kept changing his statement. Amituana’i is a friend of the victim’s family.