Senior Public Servant Denies Drugs Charges and other court stories

By Lagi Keresoma

APIA, SAMOA – 07 MARCH 2022: The Deputy Electoral Commissioner, Afualo Daryl Mapu has pleaded not guilty to 6 charges relating to drugs.

His plea was entered by his lawyer Su’a Leone Mailo in Court today and the hearing has been set to be heard together with his female co-defender on 7 June 2022.

Afualo Daryl Mapu facing six drugs charges.

Afualo and co-defender were arrested in a police raid in December 2021 at Nu’u Fou where police confiscated illegal weapons, money, drug utensils and a large quantity of methamphetamine.

He is facing charges of the possession of narcotics, utensils, an unlicensed firearm, unlawful ammunition, possession of ammunition without a permit and possession of an unlawful weapon.

Teenager accused of arson out on bail
A 17 year old male charged with arson for the fire that destroyed a petrol pump at Saanapu village two weeks ago, has been released on bail.

Penerose Peneueta’s bail conditions include surrendering all his travel documents to the Court Registrar and report to the Poutasi police station every Friday.

He is also ordered to stay away from any petrol station, not to contact prosecution witnesses or reoffend while out on bail.

The charge stemmed from an incident two weeks ago at the Saanapu petrol station where Penerose is accused of lighting a container that was being filled with petrol and caused a fire that destroyed the petrol station.

The incident was caught on video which was presented to police.

His lawyer Quentin Sauaga informed the Court that his client’s family had already presented a traditional apology to the owner of the gas station and the apology was accepted by the owner.

Penerose has yet to enter a plea and the matter will be recalled next week.