Stepfather sentenced to 15 years for rape of two stepdaughters

By Lagi Keresoma/

Apia, SAMOA – 8 April 2026: Supreme Court Justice Fepuleai Ameperosa Roma has sentenced a 41-year-old man, Pasi Aeau to jail for raping his two stepdaughters.

The incident happened from July 2022 to January 2023, and he was charged with seven counts of rape and seven counts of having sexual intercourse with a dependent family member under the age of 21.

The offence happened several times while his wife, the victim’s mother, was at Salelologa selling cocoa.

The victims were 19 and 15 years old at the time of the offence.

According to the police summary of facts, the stepfather had threatened the victims several times not to tell anyone, however, the offence came to light when one of the victims got pregnant and exposed the stepfather as the father of the baby.

He denied all charges and on 3^rd November 2025 when the trial was about to begin, Prosecution withdrew 8 charges leaving 6 counts of sexual violation by rape.

Through his lawyer he vacated a not guilty plea and entered a guilty plea.

Breaching trust
In passing judgement, Justice Roma noted several aggravating factors of the offence which included the breach of trust rendered by his stepdaughters upon him.

He also noted that the offence was “premeditated”.

There was also the “vulnerability of the victim given their age and your relationship and the fact that the offence took place 6 times.”

Mitigating factors
The court also took into account the mitigating factors in the defendants favour which includes his guilty plea saving the victims from giving evidence and reliving the event.

Another factor is the apology rendered by his family of fine mats, money and food.

The court also considered his age and that he has 8 children of his own including the victims.

A first offender, the court also took into account the village pastor, Reverend Namaia Tuiletufuga’s testimony that the defendant is a hardworking person whom his family relies on.

Decision
Justice Roma said “rape attracts the highest penalty of life imprisonment in the criminal law.

“Sadly, this is another case of daughters being sexually violated by their stepfather in the sanctity of the home where they should have been protected, loved and felt safe,” he said.

Justice Roma adopted the 21 years as a starting point for sentencing then deducted several mitigating factors from 21 years and sentenced Aeau to 15 years in jail.

The court also issued a suppression order on the publication of the victim’s names but the order does not extend to the defendant.

The defendant was represented by Aeau Tima Leavai and the prosecutor was Fuifui Ioane.