The man arrested and charged with the recent Vailoa hit and run of a Chinese businesswoman was one of the eight arrests in a December 2021 Maali Street police drug bust.
Gafa Siona Taufao, 39, of Malie is facing three charges incluing driving an unlicensed vehicle, negligent driving causing death and failing to ascertain to an injured person.
The same Gafa Siona Taufao was arrested with seven other suspects when police seized 90 grams of methamphetamine, utensils and a weighing apparatus from a residential property at Maali Street in Vaitele-Fou.
This week Gafa Siona, through his lawyer, accepted that he had failed to stop and that he was driving an unlicensed vehicle.
However he pleaded not guilty to the charge of negligent driving causing death.
A woman who owned and operated a restaurant in Ululoloa had gone to the Vailoa roadside fish stands in the early hours of Sunday morning 24th September 2023.
The woman who had lived in Samoa for three years, died as a result of serious head injuries
Police Commissioner Auapaau Logoitino Filipo had made a public call for information after the vehicle failed to stop.
The accused was arrested almost one week later.
In Court this week the question was raised if the accused had previous convictions and he responded that his only previous conviction was one in relation to receiving stolen goods.
The Court granted bail and set the 6th of May 2024 for hearing.
Public Notices
Happy Booking! 🌴🥥 #samoatropicalgetaway #beautifulsamoa
- Vailoa Hit and Run Accused was Arrested in Maali Street Drug Bust of December 2021 - October 26, 2023
- Palolo 2023: Ta’i $50 i le Ofu, ae ta’i $500-$1000 i Fagu Eseese - October 7, 2023
- Lefagaoalii: One Matai Appears in Supreme Court, Prosecutors Yet to Finalise Charges - September 27, 2023
