Police in Savai'i are carrying out an investigation into an alleged incest rape case involving a Year-Seven girl from Savai'i. 

The Deputy Police Commissioner, Auapaau Logoitino Filipo confirmed that the matter was reported to their outpost at Fagamalo last week. 

"I can confirm that our police here in Savai'i are conducting a thorough investigation in relation to that case," Auapa'au said. 

"But we have yet to charge anyone as the investigation continues. We will definitely inform you guys if we have any updates and if, when we find the suspect (s)."

The guardian of the victim who wished to stay anonymous told the Samoa Observer that they are placing their trust in the hands of the Police. 

"What happened to my niece is something that cannot be undone," she said. 

"But as a family, we are hoping that those behind the awful incident would be punished by the law."

The aunty of the victim said she immediately reported the matter to the police station and took her niece to the nearest hospital for a checkup as soon as she discovered what happened.

"As a mother, it was hard to accept what happened. The thought that my niece who is still in Primary school being raped is killing me slowly on the inside. 

"That kind of experience will never go away. Her mind and body will never be the same and I want those behind this terrible behavior to be put behind bars. 

"We will not stop."

In another matter, deputy police commissioner, Auapa'au Logoitino Filipo also confirmed that police are yet to determine to whom the bones belong to that were discovered at Fogasavai'i. 

"At the moment, we [still] don't know to whom the bones belong," Auapa'au responded. 

"We are waiting for an inquest to determine that."

Earlier this month, the Ministry of Police and Prisons launched an investigation into a child’s skeleton found inland of Fogasavai’i last month. 

Auapaau confirmed police retrieving the remains from the village in Savai’i, now being kept at the Tuasivi hospital. 

“It was reported to police,” he said. 

“The bones were found far inland of Fogasavaii and they have been retrieved and kept at the Tuasivi hospital. 

“We have not identified who it is but according to the hospital the bones belong to a young person and we are continuing [our] investigation.” 

Asked if it is possible the bones belong a child from Fogasavaii who went missing in December last year, the Deputy Commissioner said they have not reached that conclusion yet. 

He said the skeleton is unrelated to a 7-year-old who is still missing to this day. Auapaau could not confirm if foul play was involved. 

On 28 December 2020, Police had appealed to members of the public in search of 7-year-old Junior Ben from the village of Fogasavaii. 

He is a child with disabilities who went missing shortly after Christmas. 

“He was last seen wearing white shorts with no shirt,” said a Police statement at the time. 

“Junior Ben a.k.a. J.B. is a child who has a disability and his family is anxious to find him.” 

Another unsolved case from last December was that of a 56-year-old man of Samusu Aleipata who also went missing. 

Auapaau confirmed that as of today police have no leads to the whereabouts of the 7-year-old boy from Fogasavaii and the 56-year-old man from Samusu. 

On separate matters before the Coronial Court last year were the unsolved mysteries of three different skeletons discovered in 2017 and 2018. 

Residents from Vailele discovered human skull and bones near the Maugafiafia waterfall in October 2017. 

A year later another discovery of two skeletons were found near Saanapu beach. 

Police reported that the two skeletons found in Saanapu belonged to a female and male adult. 

In addition they revealed that there were no missing persons at the time on that part of the island. 

The three cases remain unsolved.