Police v Ah Kau [2013] WSSC 139 (8 November 2013)

SUPREME COURT OF SAMOA

Police v Ah Kau [2013] WSSC 139

Case name:	Police v Ah Kau
Citation:	[2013] WSSC 139
Decision date:	08 November 2013
Parties:	POLICE and ALOFI AH KAU, male of Se’ese’e
Hearing date(s):
File number(s):
Jurisdiction:	Criminal
Place of delivery:	Mulinuu
Judge(s):	Justice Nelson
On appeal from:
Order:
Representation:	F Lagaaia and O Tagaloa for prosecution Defendant unrepresented
Catchwords:
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Legislation cited:
Cases cited:
Summary of decision:

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF SAMOA
HELD AT MULINUU

BETWEEN:

POLICE

Prosecution

AND:

ALOFI AH KAU, male of Se’ese’e.
Defendant

Counsel: F Lagaaia and O Tagaloa for prosecution
Defendant unrepresented
Sentence: 08 November 2013

SENTENCE

1. The defendant appears for sentence on a charge of attempted rape on a girl who was at the time 5 years of age and attending primary school. The incident occurred in April 2008. And has not been dealt with because the defendant failed to appear after his original remand. A warrant was issued for his arrest and for reasons not clear to the court it took 5 years to execute the warrant. The warrant was only executed in August this year. At his first court appearance the defendant entered a plea of guilty to the charge hence his appearance today for sentence.
2. He is not the normal defendant that the court usually sees. Because the documents before me indicate he has mental issues. And he is the subject of a Community Treatment Order issued under the Mental Health Act 2007. The effect of the order is that he is undergoing treatment by the Mental Health Unit which seems from enquiries that I have made to consist of visits to the defendant and medication. The report from Mental Health Consultant Specialist clearly indicates that the defendant has health difficulties. But he does have the capacity to understand right and wrong. The report also indicates that his mental status is improving. And that his current treatment should continue.
3. The absence of a mental health facility at the national hospital for patients such as this defendant makes this a difficult matter to determine. But the court has received an assurance from the Acting Commissioner of Police that if a punitive sentence is ordered the defendant can be accommodated in a special cell with older prisoners. He has in fact in accordance with an order already made by the court already been transferred to such a cell. The defendant in response to enquiries from the court indicates that he is adequately looked after in that cell.
4. Considering the seriousness of the offending and the fact that it involves such a young victim. It is necessary to impose a prison sentence on the defendant to teach him that what he did was wrong and will be severely punished. Further, to continue to send the message from the court that defendants who act in this way in relation to young children will end up in prison. But in assessing an appropriate term the court takes into account the fact that firstly this is an offence that occurred five years ago. Thus lessening the impact of any deterrent sentence on the defendant. And in particular I take into consideration the defendants mental status and how prison may affect him.
5. I also take into account his background as fully detailed in the probation office pre-sentence report. And the various references and other evidence of his good character that have been placed before the court. Also in his favour is his guilty plea which has saved the necessity of a trial and in particular saved this young girl who is now 10 years old and attending school from having to relive the incident that occurred.
6. The maximum penalty for the offence the defendant has pleaded guilty to is 10 years in prison under the old crimes legislation. Had the defendant been a normal defendant without the sort of mental incapacity that this defendant has he would have expected to receive a sentence of somewhere around 6 to 8 years in prison. Appropriately discounted for mitigating factors. But considering the defendants mental status and the other relevant facts of his case I have come to the conclusion that the minimum term the court can impose on the defendant would be a period of at least 2 years in prison after taking into account his guilty plea and other relevant mitigating factors. That is the term the court will impose in respect of the defendant.
7. E tatau ona e falepuipui ona e matuia le solitulafono lea na e faia. Ua e malamalama? (Defendant said yes). Ae e le umi se taimi lea o le a tuu atu ia oe pei o nisi tagata. Ana faapea o lena e atoatoa lou mafaufau semanu e mamafa le faaiuga e tuu atu ia oe. Ae ona o tulaga o lea e te iai ma le tulaga o lea ua aumai i ripoti ia ei luma o le faamasinoga o lea o le a faaitiiti le faasalaga mo oe i le 2 tausaga e te nofo taofia ai i le falepuipui mo le solitulafono lenei. Ua e malamalama Alofi? (Defendant indicated he understood). O le feau lea e tau avatu ia oe aua aua lava e oo mai le aso o lou oti ona e toe faia se mea faapea. Ua e malamalama? (defendant said yes).
8. Aua a e toe faia se mea faapea ia e leai loa seisi faamama avega e mafai ona tuu atu ia oe pe a toe aumai oe i luma o le faamasinoga. Ua manino ia tulaga ia oe Alofi? (Defendant indicated he understood). E te toe faia se mea faapea pe leai? (Defendant said he will never do this again until he dies). Ia aua e te toe faia se mea faapea i se teineitiiti laititi poo se teineitiiti matua poo se teineitiiti olomatua. Ua e iloa? (Defendant said ok). E 2 tausaga lou faasalaga ma o lea o le a toese le taimi lea na e taofia ai mai le 2 tausaga lena. His remand in custody time is to be deducted.
9. O lea foi ua fautuaina e le faamasinoga le ofisa o leoleo e faaauau pea ia togafitiga ia e fai e fomai i lau susuga ma ou tui ma mea faapena. Ua e malamalama? (defendant said yes). O isi tulaga o lou togafitiga e le mafai ona aia iai le faamasinoga o lea o le a taatia atu pea i le ofisa o le falemai. Ae o lea ua faamau i le faila o le faamasinoga ia tulaga uma ole togafitiga lea e faagaioi e le falemai mo lau susuga. E iai se mea e te le’o malamalama ai i le faaiuga Alofi? (Defendant said no).

Discussion with defendants aunty

34. Sei tula’i mai, o oe foi o le tuafafine o Alofi?

Aunty O Alofi o le tama a lo’u uso lau afioga

34. ia masalo o lena ua e faafofoga mai i le faaiuga o le faamasinoga i le mataupu lenei. Ona na’o oe lea e tula’i mai mo le aiga a le taulealea ia e tuu atu le avanoa e fesiligia ai pe ua manino tulaga uma o le faaiuga pe iai se vaega e le’o manino e te fia fesili mai ai ae le’i faamaea le mataupu a Alofi.

Aunty faafetai lava mo le avanoa. Ia lau afioga i le faamasino ae maise le mamalu o le faamasinoga faamolemole pe mafai ona...oute iloa ua tautuaupega mai se manatu foi poo se lagona e aumai i luma o le faamasinoga. Ae pe mafai ona fai sa’u faamatalaga.

34. ia lelei

Aunty ae ina ua maea atu le faamasinoga talu ai nei lea sa ou auai ona ou toe sailiili ai lea i le ofisa faanofo vaavaaia poo le resitara ona e le’i malamalama au i tulaga ma le mafuaaga o le aumai o Alofi. Ona ou maua ai lea o tagata lava..o a’u sa iai i le taimi lea na tupu ai le mea lea a’o o’u faiaoga i le aoga lea i le taimi lea. Ae i le taimi foi lea sa sili ai ona tuga ma leaga le mafaufau o Alofi i le taimi lea. Ia o au sa ou iai i le taimi lea. O tagata foi ia e aafia ai ma tupu ai le mea lea ia o tagata o le matou aiga.

O kaseni o lo’u tina le tamaitai lea o Mary Gray. O ia na adopt ina le teineitiiti laititi lea a’o lea na ou sailiilia poo ai na failaina le tulaga lea. O le uso o le tamaitai laititi lea na aafia. Ae i le taimi lea a’o o’u iai i le aoga na oo atu ai lo’u aunty lea poo le kaseni o lo’u tina lea o Mary Gray ma ma talanoa ma faailoa atu ia te a’u e vaai le tama lea. Ua uma ona ma soalaupuleina ma ma talanoaina aua o le teineitiiti lea laititi e aafia ile tulaga lea e adopt e Mary Gray. Pei o le mafuaaga lena. Ona oo mai foi laia o Mary Gray ma faapea mai ia te a’u ia vaai le tama o lena ua tele le aafiaga lena ua iai. O a’u foi na avea Alofi i le falemai. Ia i tulaga ia faapea mo se fesoasoani ae oute iloa ua uma na foia le faafitauli lea ona o lea sa ou iai ile taimi lea a’o lei malaga ese atu mo Amerika Samoa. Ma i le tamaitai foi lea ua ia aumaia i totonu na fai iai le tala a Mary Gray e leai se mea e alai ona tautala fua ia. O ia foi e fiafia e alu atu e avatu Alofi i le latou aiga e nonofo uma i le tamaitai lea o Mary Gray.

Ae ua uma ona ma soalaupuleina ma Mary Gray ona faapea mai lea o le tamaitai lea o loo vaaia le teineitiiti lea na aafia e vaai faalelei le tama. Aua e alu atu Alofi i totonu o le aoga lea o le taimi lea ua leaga lona mafaufau. E sasaa le glue i lona ulu ma fealualua’i ma faasoesa solo i totonu o le aoga ia ae tamoe a iai le teineitiiti lea. Aua o lea ua iai ni aso ua nofo ai Alofi i le latou aiga. Ia pei o le tamoe la o le teineitiiti lea ua mafua ai ona faapea ona o le taimi tonu lea o loo faaletonu le mafaufau o le tama. Ia ae i le tulaga foi i le...e le’i maua e matou se tulaga faapea ua aumai se tagi faatatau i lea mataupu. Mai lena 5 tausaga e le’i faailoa foi e susuga i le ofisa o leoleo lo matou aiga i ni tulaga faapea. O ma galulue ai foi iinei o maua o faifeau i Afega i le taimi lea na iinei lava Alofi. E lei iai ni tulaga e faailoa atu ni tulaga faapea ua taatia mai ai i le taimi umi lea mai le 2008 seia oo mai i le taimi nei a’o lea faatoa tula’i ai. E le’i iai foi la se tulaga faapea e le’i appear Alofi i luma o le faamasinoga aua e le’i maua e matou se tulaga faapea ua faaoo mai le matupu i le faamasinoga. Se’i vagana ai le taimi lava lenei i le tausaga nei ua oo atu ai alii mamalu o le malo ma o latou aumai ai loa Alofi ia lea ua alai ona tula’i ai loa i le taimi nei. Ia pei o le tulaga lena lau afioga i le faamasino.

Ou te le toe taea nisi itu pei ona ou faailoa atu ua te’a le taimi ua maea foi ona feutagai ona o tagata lava o matou aiga. Ia ae o lea ua toe tulai mai lenei tulaga ma e faamalie atu ai ma oute faamaualalo atu ai i le agaga faaaloalo lava i se tulaga foi poo le mea sese foi ua fai e Alofi ona o le tulaga sa iai lona mafaufau. Ma pei foi ona avatu le talosaga i le taimi foi ua fano talu ai nei i se talosaga poo le a se finagalo ae tuu mai Alofi aua o lea ua iai le iuga ma te toe foi mai e galulue iinei ia e mate vaaia lelei ma tausia foi ma fesoasoani i le olaga talavou o Alofi. Ia pei o tulaga uma lava na ia na ma oo foi i le mea o loo taofia ai ia e tele lava nisi complains a le tama e aumai i uta i le mea o loo iai. Ia ae faatalosaga atu ai ona ma te puipui foi i nisi tulaga e tulai mai mulimuli ane ona nei iai se mea e faaletonu ai le mafaufau o le tama. Ia ina nei iai nisi o i latou o loo aumau ai foi i lea nofoaga ia ona tula’i mai ai lea o nisi faafitauli mulimuli ane ona tele ai lea o le faafitauli. Ia ae pei o tulaga na e faatalosaga atu ai i lau afioga i le faamasino.

Ia e le’o iai foi iinei lona tina ae pei oua tuu mai le faamoemoega ia maua o loo ma iai ma galulue foi e fesoasoani iai i lona olaga. O leisi itu oute fia faailoa atu e tele le aafia o le oo mai ia ma oo ia Alofi ona na amata mai le taimi na fanau mai ai. Ua maliu lona tama sa pule i le ola. A’o sosoo lava ma le vaiaso e ola ai Alofi ma fanau mai ai Alofi. Pei oute iloa lava o iina e amata mai ai le tele o aafiaga ma tulaga foi ua iai nei. Ia ma le talosaga vaivai e tuuina atu i luma o lau afioga ile faamasino. Ia manuia lava lenei aso faafetai lava.

34. lelei masalo na ta talanoa foi ile taimi lea ua fano i le valaauga mulimuli o le mataupu lenei. O lea sa taumafai e faailoa atu i le faamasinoga le tulaga lea ua e taua foi lea se avanoa e mafai ona tuu atu ai le tama i lalo o le tou vaavaaiga. E faigata tele. E tele tulaga e faigata ai. A’o le tulaga e pito i sili ona faigata leaga o le solitulafono lea e fai e aafia ai le teineitiiti na’o le 5 tausaga. Ma e le mafai ona alo le tulafono i se faaiuga e talafeagai ma le mataupu lena. E tele la le alofa atu ae ua saisaitia lima a le faamasionga ona o le manaomia o le tulafono e tatau lava ona faatino se faaiuga ma se faasalaga talafeagai. O lea foi e aumai ripoti o le falema’i, e le faapea o se tagata e matua leiloa a poo a ana mea la e fai. E mo’i sa faaletonu le mafaufau ae tele mo ituaiga faaletonu o le mafaufau. O lea e aumai i le ripoti e mo’i o la e faaletonu a’o la e malamalama i le sa’o ma le sese o ana mea ia sa fai. E tatau ona tuu foi le aoaiga iai i le taulealea e aua le toe faia se mea faapea. Pei o tulaga lena e faigata ai. O leisi tulaga e pito i sili ona faigata ai ia o oulua lea e nonofo i Tutuila. O le aiga lea e iai i le taimi lenei e le’o faataatia mai se faamaoniaga e mafai ona tou vaaia le tama. Aua o le taimi lea na i lalo o le tou vaavaaiga ia o le iuga lea. Solitulafono, aumai i luma o le faamasinoga. O leisi lena tulaga e faaeteete ai le faamasinoga. E mafai foi ona ou faailoa atu i le taimi na valaau ai le mataupu lenei i le 2008, sa iai lona tina. O lea e faamau i le faila a le faamasinoga. O lona tina sa la tutu faatasi ma tuu le talosaga faapena i le faamasinoga e tatala atu i tua i lalo o le vaavaaiga a le aiga. Na silafia lelei a la e lona tina le tulaga lea ua iai le mataupu a le tamaitiiti. Ae oo atu i le aso na tolopo e toe valaau ai e leai seisi na sau. Le sau le taulealea, le sau le tina. O le mafuaaga lena na fai ai loa le tusi saisai.

Atonu e te le’o silafia uma tulaga na aua e pei o lea e tau maua atu o oulua pei e malaga mai Tutuila a’o le faamaumauga lena i luga o le faila a le faamasinoga. Ia o vaega uma na o lea ua ou malamalama iai ma o le mafuaaga foi lena o lea ua faamama atu le faaiuga a le taulealea. E sa’o oe oute popole tele i le ave o le tama i Tafaigata ae oute popole foi pe a tuu atu i lalo o le vaavaaiga a outou. Ia ma le silasila mai o isi tagata ma faapea mai, o o lona uiga e tuu mama e le tulafono ia solitulafono faapenei. E tatau ona fuafua uma faaiuga i mataupu faapena.

A faapea o iai se agaga a le tou aiga e le talia le faaiuga ia o le tou aia lena. O e fai se loia, fai se tou talosaga e ave i le faamasinoga o talosaga pe a tou mananao e toe iloilo le talosaga. Ae mafai ona ou faailoa atu ile aso o vaega uma na sa e taua o loo manino ia a’u. Ae iai lo’u talitonuga o le faaiuga lea ua avatu o le faaiuga e fetaui mo le mataupu lenei pe a fua uma i tulaga faapena. Ae le taofia ai outou pe a faapea o loo iai se fesiligia i le faaiuga a le taulealea. O le tou aia tatau le tulaga lena. Ae ua ala ona ou talanoa atu faapea, e lelei a le faamalamalama atu tulaga lea ua iai le mataupu a le tama ma ripoti lea ua i luma o le faamasinoga mai le ofisa faanofo vaavaaia faapea foi ma le falemai. Ia o si faamalamalamaga puupuu lena ia oe, e faamalulu atu ua galo foi lou suafa.

Masalo e ao foi ona faailoa atu e iai foi le avanoa e palola mai ai le tama ae le’i uma lana 2 tausaga. Aua a toese le taimi lea ua nofo taofia ai o lona uiga o lana 2 tausaga na amata tuli mai ia Aukuso. Ia o la e iai le tulafono a maea ona tuli le afa o le taimi o le faasalaga o loo iai le avanoa e talosaga ai i le palola. O tulaga la ia na e saunoa iai e taua la le toe faailoa i le ofisa o le palola ile tulaga i le vaavaaiga o le tama. Aua oute iloa foi o le fesili lena e fesiligia. A faapea e palola o fea le mea e nofo ai, o ai o le a vaavaaiga, o ai o le a mautinoa o lea e fai ana medication ma ona tui ma tulaga faapena.

Ia ua lelei o sina faamatalaga puupuu lena e tusa ai ma le matupu lenei. Ae atonu ua manino le faaiuga a le taulealea. Alofi alu e tuli faalelei lou faasalaga ma aua e te toe faia se mea faapea toe aumai oe i luma o le faamasinoga ua e iloa.

JUSTICE NELSON