Translated from the files of FaaSamoa. A 39 year old man of Palisi is spending Christmas in police custody following the death of his 12 year old son last week.
Deputy Police Commissioner Papalii Monalisa Tiai-Keti in response to questions from Samoa Global News said the tragic incident happened last week, and the boy’s father has been charged with murder.
Papalii further confirmed the deceased child was the son of the accused, and not his daughter as some local news sites have reported.
Papalii says the murder charge is based on preliminary investigations, where Police have found that a hard object, mea faitino malo, was used to cause serious injuries to the child.
The accused is remanded in custody until he is due to appear in Court on the 30th of January 2023.
In another incident of abuse towards children, a woman appeared in the Supreme Court facing charges relating to the death of her 13 year old daughter.
It is alleged the woman was giving her 11 year old child a beating when the child managed to get away from the mother’s hold and ran away.
The woman then allegedly picked up a stone and threw it toward her 11-year old. However, the stone instead, hit her 13-year-old girl in the head.
Deputy Police Commissioner Papalii Monalisa says the Ministry is saddened by the repeat of incidents involving children.
Papalii cautioned parents against breaking the law when applying discipline to their children.
Samoa ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) on 11 November 1994. Supreme Court Justice Vui Clarence Nelson, who served on the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child, has repeatedly said there should be zero tolerance to the use of physical force in the discipline of children.
“You might call it smacking,” says Supreme Court Justice Vui, “but I call it assault.”
In other domestic violence cases over the Christmas period, a former police officer has been arrested and charged with the murder of a police woman, who was shot and killed in the early hours of Saturday morning 24 December.
If you or someone you know is being abused, please call Samoa Police on 22222 or the SVSG Free Calling 24 Hour Help Line 800-7874.
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