Convicted murderer escaped from TCF last week, charged

Convicted murderer Mark Faipaua appeared in the District Court this week over claims that he escaped from the Tafuna Correctional Facility last week.

The defendant has been incarcerated since 2006 in relation to a homicide case.

Faipaua is charged with one count of escape with confinement which is a class D felony punishable by up to five years in jail and or a fine of up to $5,000.

According to the criminal complaint, a Police investigation uncovered around 11:32 pm the West Sub-Station received a tip from a member of the public that an inmate was observed outside her residence in Petesa.

Three police units responded to the call and the prisoner was observed running to a shortcut in Petesa.

A Police vehicle that was stationed around the area for speeding enforcement saw a man with his girlfriend and a little girl walking towards them. Police approached them and discovered it was Faipaua, they proceeded to arrest him and the prisoner was uncontrollable, swearing at the officers they were arresting the wrong person.

Police Officers who responded confirmed that he was in fact Faipaua.

The defendant was implicated in 2009 in the murder of 54-year-old Lisati Uili.

When Mark was sentenced in that murder case, the court noted he was a repeat offender and also served 20 months in prison for criminally negligent homicide in connection with the death of Tuvalu fisherman, Kalele Kaleka in 2006.