A former American Samoa police officer is now in prison after being extradited to the territory from the US state of Washington.
Photo: 123rf
Steven Tuato'o has been charged with five counts and is being held without bail at the Territorial Correctional Facility.
He faces one count of unlawful possession methamphetamine, one count of unlawful possession, marijuana, possession of a prohibited weapon, unlawful possession of a fire arm and flight to avoid prosecution.
The charges stem from the findings of a police raid of Tuatoo's home in Alofau in November of last year in which, drugs and a 16-gauge shotgun were found.
Following the raid Tuato'o was set to be detained until the next sitting of the District court on November 13.
However between November 11 and 12 corrections officers at the Territorial Correctional Facility mistakenly released the defendant.
Tuato'o then travelled to the mainland via Samoa but was arrested over a domestic violence charge, to which he pled guilty.
Governor Lolo Moliga filed a request for extradition of Tuato'o and he was returned to the territory last week.
