Japanese man suspected in burning of a Aleisā family home

Latu and Faaiuga who lost everything to a fire, received donations from Samoa Victim Support Group and the constituency’s newly elected member of parliament, Fepulea’i Fa’asavalu Faimata Su’a.

By Lagi Keresoma

APIA, SAMOA – 18 APRIL 2021: A Japanese man is suspected in the burning down of a family home at Aleisā a week ago.

The incident happened while the couple, Latu and Faauiga Faaologo were in Savaii to cast their votes in the 9 April general elections.

The couple arrived at her husband’s family in Savaii on the day before the election and they received word of the fire but kept it to themselves.

Returning to Upolu on Saturday after voting, they ran into their winning candidate Fepulea’i Fa’asavalau Faimata Su’a of Salega 1 at the Mulifanua wharf. They hitched a ride with him from Salelologa and to Aleisā, but did not reveal what they knew until they arrived and saw everything, their home totally burnt to the ground.

The incident
The suspect is a Japanese man who speaks Samoan well and is believed to have been in the country since 2016. He was a friend of Faaiuga’s cousin and lived with the family at Malololelei for some time.

Later, Faaiuga’s cousin took him to Aleisā to help develop Latu and Faaiuga’s land.

But Faaiuga observed that he seemed to be far from settling down.

“He moved around living with various families and moved from village to village when he had enough of that family,” said Faaiuga.

“He’s been in and out of Aleisā until we prepared to go to Savaii and Latu told him that he was not welcomed at their home anymore.”

Faaiuga believes it was their decision to kick him out that triggered the incident.

Asked how they knew it was him who caused the fire, Faaiuga said he boasted about burning the house to one of her husband’s relative who later informed the police.

The matter is now with the police.

Samoa Victim donate for the family
Last Friday, the Samoa Victim Support Group (SVSG) through Fepulea’i donated clothes and food for the family.

The couple have 3 young children and they are grateful to SVSG for the assistance.

Both Latu and Faaiuga were deeply touched by the SVSG’s gesture and also Fepuleai for the help. The donations included basics such as clothing, food, water containers, plates, spoons, cups, forks and pots to help restart the family.