Justice done
Re: Retired Police Sergeant fined
It was an accident. He fell asleep at the wheel. He didn’t deliberately run her over or got drunk and drove.
I think the sentence is appropriate given that he went straight to the Police to report the matter (at the Faleolo police station), he pleaded guilty and admitted his guilt, and he and his family presented an ifoga and fa’aaloaloga to the victim’s lauava valued at $10,000.
I presume the ifoga was accepted by the family.
He didn’t get off with a discharge without conviction either.
He now has a criminal record. Given that this is his very first offence (albeit a serious one), a fine near the maximum he could have got is appropriate. If he doesn’t pay the fine he will go to jail for 3 months.
PS Jeffrey