Police have issued a stern warning against irresponsible drinking over the holiday period. 

“It is illegal to assault people who are overly intoxicated,” said Superintendent Tuaena Lomano Paulo during his radio programme on 2AP. 

The warning comes after the death of a 30-year-old male of Aele-fou and Faleula outside of the Birdies bar at the Faleata Golf Court last Saturday. 

“It’s the holidays, there are parties throughout the week, but for those of you that cannot drink [you] should not consume alcohol. Also for those that do drink, to please consume responsibly,” he added. 

Superintendent Tuaena also appealed to members of the public to contact the Police not take the law into their own hands. 

This week a 24-year-old has been charged with murder, manslaughter, causing serious bodily injury, causing injury and assault.

The Deputy Police Commissioner, Papalii Monalisa Keti, confirmed the suspect was arrested and charged on Monday morning. 

The body of the deceased man was discovered near Birdies Bar at the golf course.

The accused is from Vaiusu and will appear in court later this month; he is being held at the Tanumalala prison. 

A Samoa Land Corporation security guard, Eti Leaegalesolo, who saw the deceased on Saturday, was working at the golf course when the Police arrived and discovered the body near the bar.

The course is a property owned by the Corporation.

“The Police came, not for the deceased man but for something else, which is how they found out about the deceased man outside of the Birdie’s last night,” he said.

The Police confirmed that the deceased was a 30-year-old male of Aele-fou and Faleula. 

He was an employee at the Sleepwell (International) Company, a premium mattress company. 

The company’s General Manager, Victoria Faamoana, in response to requests for comment from the Samoa Observer said the company were saddened by the passing of their employee. 

The company held an end-of-year party at Birdies from 2pm to 6pm. 

The bar was open to members of the public after that, a company employee who refused to be identified during a telephone interview with the Samoa Observer said. 

The employee said that the deceased man stayed on after the party had finished.