Difference in conviction records delay sentencing

By Lagi Keresoma/

Apia, Samoa – 24 September 2025: The difference in the Police and Probation Office records has prompted another adjournment to the sentencing of a young man charged with unlawful entrance and theft.

The defendant was supposed to be sentenced yesterday, however, Justice Leiataualesa Daryl Clarke noted the difference in information presented before the court and adjourned sentence to October for prosecution to clarify the issue.

The police summary of facts read out in court stated the defendant is a first offender. However, Probation records showed the defendant was charged and convicted on similar charges in 2014.

Justice Clarke asked the defendant if he had been charged before or had served an imprisonment time and he said “no”.

However, the Probation Officer said their records state otherwise.

Prosecution asked for time, but Justice Clarke told her that they should have had all documents verified prior to the case and not ask for more time on the day scheduled for sentencing.

The defendant is charged with two counts of theft and two counts of unlawful entrance in two separate incidences.

The first offence happened at Vailele where he unlawfully entered a house and stole items worth $3000.

The stolen items included a camera, a fan and a router all worth $3000.

The victim is an overseas woman working for a UN agency in Apia and she was overseas at the time of the offence.

She reported the incident to her landlord who reported the matter to police.

All stolen items were recovered after the police checked on the Maketi Online platform.

The second offence involved the theft of a fine mat worth $2000 that the defendant sold to someone at the Fugalei market.

The matter is now adjourned to the first week of October.