Former Deputy Speaker, Tuilagi Namulauulu Vavae Leo II, jailed for 4yrs for attempted rape
Sad day all round when a former parliamentarian goes down in flames.
Ex-Speaker jailed for rape Written by Ace on 02-12-2010 08:56
by Jasmine Netzler-Iose
A former deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly has been jailed four years for attempted rape.
Tuilagi Namulauulu Vavae Leo II, who appeared under the name, Motutoa Leo II, pleaded guilty. He was sentenced by Justice Vui Clarence Nelson.
Tuilagi was initially charged with attempted rape and indecent assault following an incident in June, last year. The indecent assault charge was dismissed.
The victims name and any details that could lead to her identification were supressed by Justice Vui.
Although Tuilagi had name suppression at the start of the trial, the order was lifted after the defendant changed his plea from not guilty to guilty.
The victim was a 24-year-old woman. The court heard that she was at an uncles place at Letogo when the defendant arrived. Her aunty told Tuilagi the victim was looking for a job.
The former Speaker offered to help; saying he had many friends in town. The victim and the defendant then went in his car to search for a job.
They made many stops along the way. One of them was at a nightclub where Tuilagi told the woman she would work there.
They drove to several other locations including Aleisa, Faleatiu and Apolima. Justice Vui said the defendant made several purchases during the drive. He bought food, cutlery, a pillow and a sheet.
When they reached OloMulifanua, a place described as a secluded area, the defendant jumped out of the car and went to the victims side.
He pulled her out, threw her on the ground, pinned her down and sat on her. He used his fingers to violate the womans private parts.
As she fought to try and get away, the defendant punched her in the face. Eventually, she pushed him off and ran away.
The defendant followed her in his vehicle but she ran towards the bush and hid behind some trees. When Tuilagi left, she found help at a house about 980meters from where the incident happened.
The victim received a swollen and a 3cm abrasion on her left eyebrow and had injuries on her chest, breast and shoulder.
The use of violence details other affects the incident had on the victim, said Justice Vui. The judge said the victim feels relieved that the truth has finally been revealed because the hearing has been a burden on her and her family.
Justice Vuis sentencing started with five years. However 12 months was added for the defendants relationship to the victim.
Another six months was added for the use of violence. Tuilagi was then faced with six and a half years. As a first offender and his previous good character, six months was deducted.
Another six months was deducted since Tuilagis family has already made a traditional apology to the family of the victim.
A $10,000 fine the defendant has already paid to the village council meant six more months were deducted.
Justice Vui said the defendant should be congratulated for his past history and achievements.
He said Tuilagi was a well-known person in the community who was a former Member of Parliament, former deputy speaker and was a deputy registrar with the Ministry of the courts.
However, let us be clear about one thing whether a person is a member of parliament, deputy speaker and a registrar of the ministry of the courts no one can treat the law with disregard.
The Court was packed with Tuilagis relatives and friends who turned up to offer their support. He was in tears when he left the Court.
Tuilagi was represented by lawyer MaiavaVisekotaPeteru while the woman was represented by FetoniVaai, of the Attorney Generals office.
Sad day all round when a former parliamentarian goes down in flames.
Ex-Speaker jailed for rape Written by Ace on 02-12-2010 08:56
by Jasmine Netzler-Iose
A former deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly has been jailed four years for attempted rape.
Tuilagi Namulauulu Vavae Leo II, who appeared under the name, Motutoa Leo II, pleaded guilty. He was sentenced by Justice Vui Clarence Nelson.
Tuilagi was initially charged with attempted rape and indecent assault following an incident in June, last year. The indecent assault charge was dismissed.
The victims name and any details that could lead to her identification were supressed by Justice Vui.
Although Tuilagi had name suppression at the start of the trial, the order was lifted after the defendant changed his plea from not guilty to guilty.
The victim was a 24-year-old woman. The court heard that she was at an uncles place at Letogo when the defendant arrived. Her aunty told Tuilagi the victim was looking for a job.
The former Speaker offered to help; saying he had many friends in town. The victim and the defendant then went in his car to search for a job.
They made many stops along the way. One of them was at a nightclub where Tuilagi told the woman she would work there.
They drove to several other locations including Aleisa, Faleatiu and Apolima. Justice Vui said the defendant made several purchases during the drive. He bought food, cutlery, a pillow and a sheet.
When they reached OloMulifanua, a place described as a secluded area, the defendant jumped out of the car and went to the victims side.
He pulled her out, threw her on the ground, pinned her down and sat on her. He used his fingers to violate the womans private parts.
As she fought to try and get away, the defendant punched her in the face. Eventually, she pushed him off and ran away.
The defendant followed her in his vehicle but she ran towards the bush and hid behind some trees. When Tuilagi left, she found help at a house about 980meters from where the incident happened.
The victim received a swollen and a 3cm abrasion on her left eyebrow and had injuries on her chest, breast and shoulder.
The use of violence details other affects the incident had on the victim, said Justice Vui. The judge said the victim feels relieved that the truth has finally been revealed because the hearing has been a burden on her and her family.
Justice Vuis sentencing started with five years. However 12 months was added for the defendants relationship to the victim.
Another six months was added for the use of violence. Tuilagi was then faced with six and a half years. As a first offender and his previous good character, six months was deducted.
Another six months was deducted since Tuilagis family has already made a traditional apology to the family of the victim.
A $10,000 fine the defendant has already paid to the village council meant six more months were deducted.
Justice Vui said the defendant should be congratulated for his past history and achievements.
He said Tuilagi was a well-known person in the community who was a former Member of Parliament, former deputy speaker and was a deputy registrar with the Ministry of the courts.
However, let us be clear about one thing whether a person is a member of parliament, deputy speaker and a registrar of the ministry of the courts no one can treat the law with disregard.
The Court was packed with Tuilagis relatives and friends who turned up to offer their support. He was in tears when he left the Court.
Tuilagi was represented by lawyer MaiavaVisekotaPeteru while the woman was represented by FetoniVaai, of the Attorney Generals office.
This is unfortunate, but it is also pleasing to see that the justice system has enforced prosecution. In most countries politicans influence the justice system to the point where they can be completely immune to punishment from the law.
Well done Samoa, justice has prevailed.
__________________
To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment. Ralph Waldo Emerson
what made him do the things he did? what motivated the man? if its sex didnt he have a wife, a partner? is it power? sex related offending relatively common amongst our peeps in nz and my question is, why? does it have its roots in the islands? is there sumthg in our upbringing pressing dis sort of offending? am really wana understand not accuse, which is what police do..
I understand that sex is a very liberal practice in Samoa, particularly amongst our youth. Although I doubt that it's spoken of within a family, church or village context lol.
The reality is that people in positions of influence think that they can demand sex, or use their influence as a way to attract sex partners.
This is not unique to the island way of life, it happens regularly all over the world. The Spanish PM is under muck at the moment for allegations of under-age sex.
__________________
To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment. Ralph Waldo Emerson
Talofa ua faatasina suafa e faia upu o Pule i luga ona o nei mea mataga. Ua sa'o ai le upu a le isi toeina, a avatu lau mea e oso ai ia lava lea, a'e aua le fia oso i le mea a le isi. Ia tatou tatalo mo si tulafale o le atunu'u.
-I've never ever heard of a Job 'referral' whereby the Person assisting the Job seeker via 'connections' physically accompanies him/her on the Job hunt. The Person processing the 'referral' need only use a telephone to 'call around', negotiate and organise interviews on behalf of the Job-seeker and that's it. Referrals are only a shortcut in getting your foot through the door, however from the Interview stages onwards, the Job Candidate is on their own as they are assessed and hired based on the Company's hiring procedures.
-The defendant and Victim drove to several other locations including Aleisa, Faleatiu and Apolima. What kind of Employment opportunities are to be had in Aleisa, Faleatiu and Apolima? Did not the Defendant say he had many Friends in "Town"?
-Why didn't the Defendant try his moves on a willing Kungkee instead of forcing it onto the 'un-willing'? It's amazing how one's Brain wiring can fail them in their retirement.
A sad Case for sure.
__________________
"If at first you dont succeed, skydiving is not for you!" - Henny Youngman
Well, it's good in the sense of "initiating" the process, trying to get the groove on so to speak but it all goes bad when the initiator cannot for the life of them see the boundary has been way over-crossed when the other Person is NOT responding POSITIVELY.
__________________
"If at first you dont succeed, skydiving is not for you!" - Henny Youngman
Hahahaha in a perfect world life is governed by boundaries Hunter, but we don't live in a perfect world and therefore boundaries can sometimes be irrelevant LOL.
__________________
To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment. Ralph Waldo Emerson
I understand that sex is a very liberal practice in Samoa, particularly amongst our youth. Although I doubt that it's spoken of within a family, church or village context lol.
Sex is liberal amongst youth in any country, not just Samoa. You sound like Margaret Mead... Young guys and girls, with raging hormones are always going to dance the horizontal tango.
Hahahaha in a perfect world life is governed by boundaries Hunter, but we don't live in a perfect world and therefore boundaries can sometimes be irrelevant LOL.
That is why such a concept as First Class, Business Class and Economy Class exists, haha! Boundaries are only recognised when different Classes mix and you realise that what is considered 'normal' to one Class is Alien to another. Boundaries are virtually invisble 'within' Classes as those belonging to the same Class automatically behave accordingly amongst there own, LOL.
Eh = that is just the damnest thing about Flying.
__________________
"If at first you dont succeed, skydiving is not for you!" - Henny Youngman
What about the free class upgrades from time to time? when I was flying through to Africa they decided to 'upgrade' my seat from business to first class. They didn't ask any questions either, apart from, would you like a free upgrade into first class?
LOL who's going to say no to that?
Apparently there was a 'spare seat' lol.
This never worked in the real world though, and probably never will. People won't offer you a new class based on a 'spare seat'. It just doesn't work that way hahahaha.
__________________
To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment. Ralph Waldo Emerson
The SYSTEM is just the damnest thing ever. One can always be diligent and follow the Red Lights to reach the Control Room but even then = there is still no guarantee to the "Seat" because the way the SYSTEM works, only the One who has been granted the "Seat" by the SYSTEM can be CERTAIN it will be theirs.
__________________
"If at first you dont succeed, skydiving is not for you!" - Henny Youngman
