Man jailed for abducting six-year-old girl

A 20-year-old man from Moata’a has been jailed for three years and 11 months, for abducting a 6-year-old girl while she was asleep, before he proceeded to perform sexual acts on her.

Misita Siaosi Paga was sentenced on Friday afternoon over an incident where he abducted the young girl, whose name has been suppressed, from her home in October 2019. 

The Court heard that the defendant had been drinking "Rover Vodka" with his friends at the time of the offending. He took the girl into the bushes and committed sexual acts on her.

According to a summary of facts, the parents of the child were sleeping when Paga entered their home around 3am. 

Later on that morning another male went to the victim’s home and asked her mother for a cigarette. The parents were unaware that their 6-year-old daughter was not at home. 

It wasn’t until the male who went looking for a cigarette had left to head back home when he heard noises from the bush area.

The young girl emerged from the bushes and latched on to his leg.

The Court heard that the male took the girl back to her home while she was covered in a bed sheet. 

Paga, who was represented by lawyer, Arthur Lesa, vacated his plea to guilty on one count of abducting a child under 16 and one count of sexual connection. 

Justice Leiataualesa Daryl Clarke in sentencing Paga told the defendant that people are entitled to feel safe in their homes. He said that for children in particular their home is their sanctuary and the place they can feel safe when they go to sleep at night. 

“I have no doubt that you have destroyed that for this child,” he said. 

“For any parent, the abduction of any child from the family home is also a nightmare and destroys their sense of safety and security and being able to protect the most vulnerable in their family – their children.” 

After considering the aggravating factors of the offences, Justice Leiataualesa took seven years as a starting point on the sexual connection charge. He deducted time for early guilty plea, Paga’s remorse, his prior good character and reconciliation. 

“Accordingly, on the charge of sexual conduct with a child, you are convicted and sentenced to 3 years and 11 months imprisonment less your remand in custody,” he said. 

“On the charge of abduction of a child, you are convicted and sentenced to 2 years imprisonment to be served concurrently.” 

The prosecutor was Attorney General’s Office lawyer, Ann Matalasi.