American Samoa's Chief Justice, Michael Kruse, has ordered the government to provide within two weeks a complete written report as to why rape charges against a man have been dismissed.
Judge Kruse issued the verbal order in the case of Petaia Ualesi, who is accused of raping a former girl friend early this year.
Last week, the government filed a motion to dismiss the charges, saying it had received a letter from the alleged victim.
She claimed she had made up the allegations, and therefore the case lacks evidence for a successful prosecution.
The Assistant Attorney General Lisa Teesch-Maguire told the court the Government believes the witness was under family pressure to drop the charges.