A man aged between 60 and 65 appeared in the Supreme Court of Samoa during criminal mentions this morning to face charges of indecent assault and sexual abuse against a young girl under 16 years of age.
The elderly man appeared unrepresented before Justice Niava Mata Tuatagaloa and entered early guilty pleas to the two charges against him.
The Court heard that the defendant, Mr Kalapu Viane, had indecently assaulted the victim on the 13th of April 2021, in Saoluafata. The defendant committed the second offense towards the same victim a few weeks later, before the 30th of April.
Justice Tuatagaloa told the defendant these were serious charges. “The Court does not take these these types of offenses lightly” said the Supreme Court judge. “The Court notes your guilty pleas and will adjourn to the 11th of March for an appropriate sentence”.
The defendant will continue to be remanded on bail until sentencing next month.
