Police investigate assault of man in bondage video

The Police have revealed that a young man who was assaulted in a video footage which went viral on social media has filed a criminal complaint.

Deputy Police Commissioner, Papali’i Monalisa Tiai-Keti, confirmed in response to an email query from the Samoa Observer that the incident occurred in Samoa and the Police have launched an investigation.

“We anticipate to file criminal charges against those involved," she wrote in the email response. 

The online video, which was uploaded to Facebook on Sunday afternoon, showed a group of men huddled over a young man whose feet and hands were tied with a green rope.

The exact date of the incident could not be determined. 

But the victim has been identified through Facebook posts, but the Samoa Observer has chosen not to identify him, without receiving confirmation of his identity and welfare. 

The video shows a group of unidentified assailants assaulting the young victim as he cried out for help. 

The incident appears to have taken place at a wharf, and shows more than five men standing around and throwing punches at a young man on the ground. His hands and feet were bound by rope and he continued to cry out and beg for mercy as he was beaten.

In the video the young man calls out "please uncle" several times in the video while a voice outside the camera view suggests “kill him”. Another in the background suggested that his mouth is also tied with a rope in order to keep him quiet.

The discussions in the video purportedly centres around allegations that the assault victim was allegedly involved in stealing. 

And when the video footage showed the victim sitting up, his face could be seen covered in blood and swollen.

"I did nothing, please my brother Va'a, please brother," the assault victim said as he continued to cry.

Towards the end of the video, an unidentified man suggested that they drag the assault victim behind a moving car. 

The ropes on his feet were eventually loosened and he was given the chance to stand up, before he was struck again and called a "thief" and "liar".

On Monday, a woman who described herself as a sister of the assault victim, told the Samoa Observer that they have been trying to locate her brother since the video surfaced.

But the Deputy Police Commissioner said this is not true. 

Police investigations continue.