A Fijian man who entered the territory in 2015 as a crew member on a fishing boat, has been jailed for 28 months for three counts of burglary.
Rusiate Sabete, 27, must return to his homeland after serving 12 months, and he cannot return within 7 years.
Associate Justice Elvis Patea heard testimony from Chief Probation Officer Malcolm Polu that when he visited the Immigration Office and asked for Sabete’s file as ordered by the court, Supervisor Puni Paelo told him to use the Google search engine to check on the defendant’s immigration status.
He said the search didn’t produce any information.
When Chief Immigration Officer Peseta Dennis Fuimaono took the stand, the judge asked why the expiration date for Sabete’s immigration ID was left blank.
According to Peseta, Immigration wasn’t sure when the defendant’s contract with the fishing agent would be up.
Judge Patea wasn’t satisfied with the answer and went on to ask Peseta who the fishing agent was and their responsibility for the crew member.
The Chief Immigration Officer gave the name of Manuia Fisheries and said the agent is responsible for notifying their office when the fisherman’s contract is up and if a crew member leaves the vessel without permission.
The court sentenced Tabete to 28 month imprisonment as a condition of his seven years probation.
He must also serve 28 months in jail.
After one year he is to leave American Samoa and return to Fiji and not come back until his probation term is up.
His sponsor was ordered to pay Tabete’s fine of $1000 for each count of burglary, $3,000 total to be paid within 30 days as well as the defendant’s air fare back to Fiji.
