Good Samaritan wrongfully accused

By Shalveen Chand 29 October 2024, 11:54PM

A man wrongfully accused of a misdeed has turned out to be a good Samaritan helping a distraught foreigner reach home to her loved ones.

On Monday, Leaia Sam Mose, a businessman returned from Pago Pago not knowing that the owner of the car he had rented put up a post on social media alleging he had absconded with the car without paying and the car was not to be found.

“I am a businessman. I parked the car and travelled back to Pago Pago and because of CHOGM, I came two weeks later unaware of what was on social media. I was alerted by family members,” Mr Mose told the Samoa Observer.

Mr Mose had always rented cars from the company and there have been occasions where he would clear the balance after returning, just as he did this time. He is baffled as to why the car owner would do that when he has had an impeccable record. In fact, he paid $1290 for the 17 days he had the car, most of those days, the car was parked and did not move.

He is dealing with the matter and hopes that the damage done by the social media post that was taken down after midday Tuesday has not done much damage.

While the whole fiasco was going on, Mr Mose was busy helping a Fijian woman whom he found stranded in Pago Pago.

Marica Bolaitamana, 42, quit her work in Fiji six months ago on the promise of a caretaking role, however, when she arrived in American Samoa, she found out that she would be looking after two dogs and not two elderly people as she was told.

She was helpless and left with no money when her employers attempted to expel her from the country.

Mr Mose was in the line to fly to Samoa when he noticed Ms Bolaitamana in front of him.

“I am a man who believes in helping others. In front of me, there was a woman who had no fare to return home because her employer had lied to immigration that her fares were paid when it was not,” he said.

“I also found out that her employer told the immigration that Martha (Ms Bolaitamana) had run away as soon as she had arrived in Pago Pago. This was because they had not done her visa.”

Mr Mose not only brought Ms Bolaitamana to Samoa but has also paid her fare to return home to her daughter. In the coming weeks, he would be bringing Ms Bolaitamana back to American Samoa to run his fast-food business.

Ms Bolaitamana believes it was a heavenly intervention that Mr Mose met her. She said he was God-sent.

“I am just an honest man trying to make a living, trying to be successful and along the way you meet people who need your help. I come from a poor upbringing so I understand. If you have the means to help someone do so,” he said.

“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

 

By Shalveen Chand 29 October 2024, 11:54PM
Samoa Observer

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