Legal aid granted for sex crime accused

By Deidre Tautua-Fanene 24 July 2017, 12:00AM

A man accused of having sexual intercourse with a six-year-old girl and sexual violation of a two-year-old girl has been granted legal aid.

Viliamu Paulo appeared before the Chief Justice, His Honor Patu Tiava’asu’e Falefatu Sapolu last week.

The prosecutor is lawyer, Fuifui Ioane, of the Attorney General’s office.

The Court heard that the accused couldn’t afford a lawyer and had therefore requested legal assistance.

“Viliamu Paulo, the Court has been informed that your request for a legal aid has been granted,” CJ Patu told the defendant.

“However, a lawyer has not been appointed to represent you and for that reason this matter will be further adjourned to the 24th of July, 2017 so that we can find a lawyer for you.”

Prior to the hearing, Viliamu Paulo’s Pastor, Tutusa Ah Kuoi, told the Court about the circumstances which led to what has happened.

 “Viliamu has been living with me and my wife at our home at Leauva’a, however he went to his family’s house to run some errands for his mother.

“The complainant of this matter is Viliamu’s partner whom he met on social media via Facebook.

“The two victims involved are the complainant’s children.

“She (complainant) came with her children and lived together with Viliamu at his family’s home at Leauva’a.

“For the information of the court and Your Honor the complainant does work, however when she goes to go work the children are looked after by Viliamu’s mother as well as him.

“The complainant will be gone for one or two weeks while her children are cared for by Viliamu’s mother and family as well as him.

“Sometimes she comes to see her children on the weekend and then leave again apparently for work.

“One day she brought the Police officers to Viliamu’s family to get her children and so she did and left the family.

“When she left with her children later on we heard about the complaint that she had lodged against Viliamu.”

By Deidre Tautua-Fanene 24 July 2017, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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