Man guilty of crashing into official P.M. vehicle

A man accused of crashing into the official vehicle of Prime Minister Tuilaepa Dr. Sailele Malielegaoi, and evaded capture for close to a year, has been found guilty of negligent driving.

Michael Toleafoa Savusa, of Aufaga and Faleatiu, went on trial last month in relation to a traffic offence that occurred at Aufaga in April 2019. 

He pleaded not guilty to negligent driving and entered a guilty plea to driving without a license and failure to report the incident within 24 hours.

Savusa was the driver of a Toyota Noah van which crashed into the Prime Minister’s official vehicle. 

Prime Minister Tuilaepa was a passenger in another vehicle and luckily escaped the crash without any serious injuries. 

The defendant fled the scene of the incident and wasn’t captured until almost a year later. 

Since his capture he has been recalled to serve the remainder of his imprisonment term for a separate incident relating to a manslaughter charge.

In the District Court on Monday, Attorney General’s Office lawyer and prosecutor, Papal'ii Liufau Tanielu said there is no victim impact report.  He also asked the Court for an adjournment to obtain a sentencing memorandum on the prosecution’s recommendation for the defendant’s sentence.

The probation officer added that she too needs to prepare a probationary report on Savusa. 

The Court heard that the defendant has been recalled after he breached his parole conditions by reoffending.

District Court Judge, Leota Raymond Schuster, then adjourned the matter to next Tuesday for sentencing.