A 58 year old man from Faleapuna who pleaded guilty to indecent acts on three young children during criminal mentions on Monday morning, has been granted name suppression by the Supreme Court.
Acting Chief Justice, Mata Tuatagaloa ordered name suppression for the defendant because of the ages of the children affected.
According to the Police Summary of Facts, the defendant on the 17th of September this year showed his private parts to first, a young boy aged 8 and then on the same day, to an 11 year old girl and later on again on that same day, to a young boy aged 5.
Prosecutor Rexona Titi told the Court that the accused has a long list of previous convictions for similar sexual offences on young children.
Justice Tuatagaloa ordered the defendant to remain in custody until the 6th of November when he would be sentenced before her.
The Police launched a Sex Offenders Registry for Samoa in 2018 following the passing of the Sex Offender Registration Act 2017.
The Samoa Police Service has a Sex Offenders Registry Team comprised of police officers investigating sexual offences, as well as monitoring the registry pursuant to the requirements of the Act.
The registry is supposed to register full details of persons convicted of sex offences and monitor sexual crimes within Samoa, to assure the safety of vulnerable victims.
Convicted sexual offenders are required under this law to report to the Samoa Police, with reporting requirements dependent on the offence.
Justice Vui Clarence Nelson first called for a Samoa Sex Offenders Registry dating as far back as 2009.
Justice Vui suggested a Sex Offender’s Registry for Samoa during the sentencing of a 45 year old man who had come before the Courts for a second time, charged with indecent assault towards children.
