Police Sergeant Contradicts Own Testimony in Drug hearing

By Lagi Keresoma

APIA, SAMOA – 28 JUNE 2022: Police Sergeant Mose Lotomau who testified in Court yesterday contradicted his own evidence when cross examined by lawyer Su’a Leone Mailo who represented the defendant Afualo Daryl Mapu.

Afualo pleaded not guilty to 6 counts of drug related offences and possession of illegal weapons.

Sergeant Mose has served in the police force for more than 20 years and is currently working in the Forensic Division, and was responsible for taking photos at the scene at Nu’ufou on 28 December 2021.

There were two sets of photo booklets provided for the Court, one taken by the Forensic and the other by the Arms Division. In the booklet were 18 photos.

Sergeant Mose testified under oath that all 18 photos provided as evidence in the trial were all taken by him.

However, Su’a noted that there were photos exactly the same in both booklets and asked Mose to explain why these photos provided by separate police divisions are exactly the same.

Police Sergeant Mose Lotomau

Mose insisted he took them.

Su’a then identified the time the photos were taken and the time Mose arrived on the scene.

As the cross-examination continued, Mose admitted that some of the photos he did not take, and some of the photos he only took last Friday, but the raid took place on 28 December 2021.

Police Inspector Muliagatele Kavete testified that Mose arrived on the scene of the crime 30 minutes after the raid had started.

He also admitted that an officer of the Arms Division on the scene took some of the photos before Mose arrived and took over.

In re-examination, Mose was asked if anyone in the police had access to the photos in the Forensic computer, and Mose said only the Commissioner and the Forensic team.

Defendants plead not guilty 
Afualo and co-defendant Marie Fanueli were both arrested in a police raid at Nu’ufou on 28 December 2021.

Both entered not guilty pleas on the charges of possession of narcotics (Methamphetamine), possession of pipe utensils used to consume drugs, possession of marijuana, electronic devices and illegal weapons.

The hearing is set down for three days with prosecutor Lupematasila Iliganoa Atoa calling 19 witnesses.

Afualo is represented by Su’a Leone Mailo while Marie Fanueli is represented by Aumua Ming Leung Wai.

The presiding Judge is Justice Tafaomalo Leilani Tuala-Warren and the case continues today with the showing of a video of the raid.