The Supreme Court has called out a village council for overreaching its authority in a sexual case pending in court where the village questioned complainants and determined the offender was innocent.  

Chief Justice Satiu Simativa Perese raised the concern when he recently sentenced Matamua Ieremia Leatioo of Salelologa. 

Matamua was found guilty of attempted sexual violation and assault when he tied up the victim with rags and of being armed with a knife and threatening words. 

The matai of Salelologa is a taxi driver and the complainant was at the Salelologa wharf and took the cab to go to the Salelologa market sometime in June 2023. 

Instead of taking her to the market, she claimed the taxi driver took her to a bush near Don Bosco School where the defendant attempted to rape her. 

Matamua was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment. 

Chief Justice Perese raised matters about the pulenuu’s advice in his letter to the court of the victim being asked to attend a Salelologa village council meeting where she was asked to explain what happened. 

The Pulenuu advised in his letter of support of the defendant. He said the victim lied to the council and they found the defendant to be innocent. 

“I came to a different view after two days of hearing,” said Chief Justice Perese. 

“I record my concern about a Vvllage council overreaching its authority into the criminal jurisdiction of our legal system and trying to question complainants of sexual offending. 

“Many if not all the members of the council are men, and most, if not all, have no or little experience in conducting inquiries into sexual offending. 

“These are matters for the police who are skilled in conducting inquiries into serious offending such as this.” 

The defendant was represented by Arthur Lesa while Helen Apisaloma Sefo was the prosecutor from the Attorney General’s Office.