Crime In Samoa
pp. 37-38 · Read in the full issue
From Our Own Correspondent APIA, June 3.
TIMES are hard in the Territory, and it is perhaps natural that crimes and offences against the law ap pear to be increasing.
In a typical case, recently tried in Apia High Court, a 17-years-old Samoan youth, Tasele, a young Euronesian, Patele Collins, and a German-Samoan, William Schwenke, had formed a “gang” to commit robberies, in which the first named two lads stole a great variety of articles ranging from bicycles to fowls, while Schwenke acted as instructor and receiver of the goods. Some of the stolen articles were discovered by the police in Schwenke’s house. Schwenke and Tasele received prison sentences of two months each, while Collins was re leased on account of his youth.
In recent manslaughter cases, wherein ‘bus and motor-car drivers were charged with having caused the deaths of three persons in road accidents, the accused drivers were found not guilty by the juries, as there was insufficient evidence to convict.
Some particularly bad cases of rape were tried recently before Chief Judge Harley, when six Samoan youths from
the east coast village of Saluafata were charged with having raped girls of the same village on two consecutive days.
The offenders received sentences ranging from 12 to 18 months’ imprisonment.