IN THE SUPREME COURT OF SAMOA
Police v Tolu [2015] WSSC 223

Case name: 	Police v Tolu	
		
Citation: 	[2015] WSSC 223	
		
Decision date: 	22 December  2015	
		
Parties: 	POLICE (Prosecution)
SALA TOLU, male of Samusu Aleipata. (Defendant)	
		
Hearing date(s): 	-	
		
File number(s): 	S1112/13, S1153/15	
		
Jurisdiction: 	Criminal	
		
Place of delivery: 	Supreme Court of Samoa, Mulinuu	
		
Judge(s): 	Justice Nelson	
		
On appeal from:		
		
Order:		
		
Representation: 	F Ioane and Mr Tumua for prosecution
Defendant unrepresented	
		
Catchwords: 	-	
		
Words and phrases:		
		
Legislation cited:		
		
Cases cited:		
		
Summary of decision:		

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF SAMOA

HELD AT MULINUU

BETWEEN:
		
POLICE
Prosecution

AND:

	SALA TOLU, male of Samusu Aleipata.
Defendant

Counsel:	F Ioane and Mr Tumua for prosecution
Defendant unrepresented

Sentence:	22 December 2015

SENTENCE
1.	Sala has pleaded guilty to two charges.  The first is that at Samusu on 25 June 2013 he did steal a boar pig valued at $1,000 the property of Makerita Esera female of Samusu.  He also pleaded guilty to a charge that on the 02nd of January 2015 he did steal a cattle beast valued at $1,200 the property of Kalala Faaeseina Matamua female of Samusu. He apparently pleaded not guilty to a charge of theft of $50 and that matter is scheduled for hearing in the District Court next year.  It seems from these charges the defendant is in the habit of stealing and butchering and using for his own purposes animals belonging to other people of his village.  Such behaviour Sala is unacceptable and fully justifies a term of imprisonment. 
2.	The defendant says that in respect of the cattle beast he has made restitution to the owner.  But that has not been able to be verified by the probation office so I cannot make use of that in your favour.  But I accept what the probation officer has told me this morning that the defendants father has apologised on your behalf Sala to the complainants for what you did.  
3.	I am of the view a short term of imprisonment only is required for this so that you Sala can learn not to repeat this kind of conduct in the future.  Also so that the message goes to others deterring them from following your example.  
4.	Mo le mataupu lea e a’afia ai le meaituāolō, o se vaitaimi o le 9 agai i le 12 masina e talafeagai tusa ai ma le tulafono.  O le a fa’aaogaina le fua pito i lalo e 9 masina.  O le a toese mai iina le 3 masina ona o lou ioe i le mataupu lenei, ma ona o le fa’atoesega lea na fai e lou tamā i le e ana le meatotino. Totoe ai le 6 masina.  Toese leisi 2 masina ona o lea fa’atoa e tulai i se solitulafono, o lea foi e lelei lou lipoti mai le Ofisa Fa’anofo va’ava’aia.  O lona uiga o le fa’asalaga mo le mataupu lena e 4 masina e tuli i le toese.
5.	Mo leisi mataupu o le manu papalagi, e tai tutusa a le tau o le manu papalagi ma le meaituāolō lea.  O lea o le a ou fa’aaogaina le 9 masina e fai ma fa’asalaga amata o le mataupu.  A toesea uma isi mea ia pei o le ioe ma tulaga fa’apena e taunuu foi i le fa’aiuga e tasi e 4 masina lou fa’asalaga mo le matuapu.  Ae ona e eseese mataupu ia e lua Sala, e tatau ona tuli eseese fa’asalaga ia. O lona uiga o le vaitaimi e te nofo taofia ai mo mataupu nei e lua e 8 masina, ae toesea mai le 8 masina lena le taimi sa e nofo taofia ai e fa’atalitali le fa’aiuga o le mataupu lenei. Ua e malamalama i le fa’aiuga o le mataupu lenei? (Defendant said yes).  

JUSTICE NELSON