A 46 year old man from Samoa told police an evil spirit made him sexually abuse his 16 year old niece on several occasions between September and November 2019.
He was also drunk and on drugs when the indecent acts happened.
Samoa News reports the man who was not named to protect the victim’s identity was arrested two weeks ago after the victim’s grandmother reported the alleged incidents to police.
The defendant made his initial District Court appearance two weeks ago where he waived his rights to a preliminary examination.
His case was bound over to High Court where he pled not guilty to charges of sodomy, attempted rape and three counts of first degree sexual abuse.
He also faces one misdemeanor count of endangering the welfare of a child.
The defendant, who’s held on bail of $50,000, will have his pretrial conference on February 24.
If he is able to post bail he’s ordered not to make any contact,. direct or indirect,with the victim and her family, or any of the government’s witnesses.
