Wife begs for mercy on adulterous husband

By Pai Mulitalo Ale 06 October 2016, 12:00AM

The wife of a suspended Police Officer who accused her husband of adultery has had a change of heart and pleaded for mercy from the District Court yesterday.

“We have gone through so much,” Atalia Sione Menefata said. 

“All that has happened is because of hatred but we have already sorted things out between us.” 

Telling the Court she needed her husband more than anything because he is the breadwinner for their family, the woman begged for leniency.

“I just want a happy White Sunday with my children and our family,” she said.

The wife of suspended senior Police Officer, Sione Menefata, made the plea before District Court Judge, Lei’ataualesa Darryl Clarke, yesterday.

Menefata faced charges of common assault, possession of an unlawful firearm and adultery. He was discharged without conviction but was ordered to pay the prosecution cost of $400.

Lawyer Fuifui Ioane appeared on behalf of the National Prosecution Office while Alalatoa Rosella Papali’i represented the defendant. 

The charges stemmed from an incident at the Lotofagā Safata Police Post on 7 March 2015. The Court heard that Atalila had become suspicious about her husband’s commitment to their wedding vows. 

Menefata at the time was looking after the Lotofaga Police Post.

At 10 that night, Atalila went to his work place. He was not there but found another’s woman’s clothes inside his office. 

She waited for him to return but he didn’t. She waited until the next morning when she decided to return home.

Back at the office, Menefata got to work and other Police officers informed him that his wife had spent the night at the office waiting for him. 

Later that day, Atalila returned to his office and found both her husband and another woman there. That’s where the commotion started. They continued to fight at home. 

Later, the angry wife filed a complaint against her husband, including a claim about an unregistered weapon he had in his possession.

Menefata was charged accordingly.  He was also suspended.

Yesterday, Atalila appeared before the District Court and begged for the Court’s leniency. She told the Court she was angry when she lodged the complaint.

In response, Judge Leiataualesa said Atalila would be well supported by the community after what she had been subjected to. 

In favour of the defendant, the Court considered the defence counsel’s submission the accused has been suspended for more than a year from the Police force. A conviction will lead to his termination as a Police officer.

The Court also took into account that he has been banished from his village of Gagaifo Lefaga and had been fined $7,000 in relation to this incident. 

By Pai Mulitalo Ale 06 October 2016, 12:00AM
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