Rev. Tofaeono Denies Committing Adultery
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What happened American Samoa Col- lege Research Foundation to the trophy Director Mrs. Alofia Afa- 4 lava and ASCC President and monetary Dr. Rosevonne Pato are inviting the community gift for LHS Val? to support the territory’s college students by taking part in the ASCRF’s 1st 32 sui mai le Annual Golf Tournament set to be held this Sat- Vasega lona 25 a urday at the Ili’ili Golf Course. Details in yester- Leoleo e fa’au’u day’s issue. i le taeao nei 25 [photo: courtesy] Ohio artist ONLINE @ SAMOANEWS.COM unveils C M “LintBron” Y K sculpture B3 DAILY CIRCULATION 7,000 PAGO PAGO, AMERICAN SAMOA FRIDAY, JUNE 09, 2017 $1.00 Rev. Tofaeono denies committing adultery Congratulations IT ALL CAME ABOUT BECAUSE OF HIS Class of 2017 EFFORTS TO CORRECT PROBLEMS AT CCCAS Translated by Samoa News staff The two-day bench trial — in court states that only an During a bench trial last week presided over by Acting Asso- ordained CCCAS minister can in High Court, Rev. Amaama ciate Justice Elvis P. Patea hold the post of General Sec- Home of the Tofaeono declared that he and Associate Judges Sua- retary; but because the Elders didn’t commit any wrongdoing, paia Pereira and Satele Lili’o Committee has suspended his including adultery. Ali’itai — began last Tuesday. ministerial duties, it’s automatic Mighty Sharks He claimed that his efforts Representing the plaintiffs that Tofaeono can no longer to correct problems within is Gwen Tauiliili-Langkilde, serve as General Secretary. the Congressional Christian while Tasi Tuiteleleapaga is the In his testimony, Tofaeono graduates 220 Church of American Samoa legal counsel for Tofaeono and flatly denied allegations the (CCCAS) have resulted in his his wife. Elders Committee have made “IT’S WHERE MY STORY BEGINS” ministerial duties being sus- The court has since taken against him and also rejects pended for a period of time and the complaint under advise- the Elders Committee decision, By Leiloa Ese Malala Ruth Matagi-Tofiga present. as a result, he has lost his post ment after hearing verbal tes- which he says didn’t give any Samoa News Staff Writer This year’s coverage of the as CCCAS General Secretary. timonies, which included that specific reasons. The Home of the Mighty 2017 high school graduation Tofaeono and his wife, Joan of CCCAS General Assembly He testified that he and his Sharks was crowded with season — for Valedictorian proud parents, close friends and Salutatorian — is brought Aleluia, who is also an ordained vice chair Rev. Elder Fa’aeteete wife were never questioned by and honored guests who to you by Paramount Builders, CCCAS minister are defendants Saifoloi. (See yesterday’s edi- the Elders Committee regarding came together to celebrate the a local company that prides in a complaint filed last month tion for details.) any allegations against them turning of the tassels and the itself in promoting education by plaintiffs - CCCAS along During the second day of and they were never given beginning of a new chapter for and investing in the territory’s with Rev. Elders Eveni Mamoe, trial, Tofaeono testified that a chance to verbally defend the graduates. children and students. Leatulagi Faalevao, and Fiti there is no evidence to support themselves before a meeting of The Sharkies were dressed The top two honors were Aofia - who are all ordained the decision to remove him and the Elders Committee. in their traditional school recognized by Vice Principal, CCCAS ministers. Mamoe is his wife from the housing at the Plaintiffs’ exhibits presented color – royal blue with their Brenda Coffin-Aisoli and were chairman of the CCCAS and Kanana Fou complex or to sus- to the court included back-and- class motto, “It’s where my presented to Valedictorian a member of the CCCAS Au pend their ministerial duties. forth correspondence between C M story begins”. The com- Brie-A’Nah Augustina Fruean Toeaina (or CCCAS Elders Tofaeono, who was last year Tofaeono and the Elders Com- Y K mencement ceremony was and Salutatorian Grace- Committee); Aofia is Elders elected General Secretary told mittee. The correspondence held at the school gymnasium Damona Lumina Tuatoo. Committee chairman and Faa- the court that he didn’t commit was mentioned during the trial. yesterday morning with 220 Brie-A’Nah Fruean is the levao is Elders Committee adultery, he didn’t abuse his However, Tofaeono testified official graduates and with daughter of Selepa Fruean and Lt.Governor Lemanu Mauga, was raised by her grandpar- secretary. wife or their daughter, and he that all his letters to the CCCAS Congresswoman Aumua According to the complaint, never gave any verbal state- General Assembly board Amata, and DOE Director Dr. (Continued on page 2) the plaintiffs are seeking to ment to the Elders Committee were returned. Responding to evict the defendants and take admitting to any wrong doing questions from the plaintiffs’ back into their possession the or allegations against him. attorney, Tofaeono says his let- one-story home the defendants As a matter of fact, he said ters were returned by Saifoloi, occupy at the CCCAS head- he has rejected all allegations Mamoe or the general assembly quarters at the Kanana Fou against him and his wife. treasurer. compound, after Tofaeono and Tofaeono testified that his Tofaeono believes his let- his wife refused to vacate the efforts in trying to correct ters were returned because the premises following a decision some of the problems within general assembly didn’t want earlier this year by the Elders the CCCAS, has resulted in the the couple to respond to the Committee that suspends their Elders Committee’s decision to decision made by the Elders ministerial duties for a period suspend his ministerial duties, Committee, and because there of time. The decision automati- which has affected his post as was no evidence to support the cally removes Tofaeono from Valedictorian Brie-A’Nah Fruean Salutatorian Grace-Damona Tuato’o General Secretary. decision, which is not in accor- his post as Secretary General. Information presented [photo:EM] [photo:EM] (Continued on page 4) Page 2 samoa news, Friday, June 9, 2017 Very proud mothers of Simone Sanitoa and Sina Kulberg who graduated with honors at the Home of the Mighty Sharks yesterday morning in the school gymnasium in Utulei. [photo:EM] ➧Home of the Mighty Sharks graduates 220… Continued from page 1 ents, Tuni and Epenesa Fruean is the daughter of Dr. Seakerise Laolagi, Tulili Lavasii, Mari- of Pago Pago. Her spiritual Tuato’o and Alapasa Petelo etta Lee, Susanna Lee, Mary upbringing at Pago Pago CCJS Tino of Alofau, Masefau, Malubay, Aliileleimatumua was under the guidance of Dr. Manu’a, Fagatogo and A’asu. Mata’u, Latoya Mauigoa, Rev. Lauoi and Tina Taimi She was a member of the Christina Mendoza, Reinnette Mageo and now under the lead- Samoana Tautua Choir and Noa, Alai Paleafei, Zemirah ership of Dr. Rev. Patolo and National Honor Society for Pati, Aisavali Peters, Angielani Mae Mageo. 3 years. She participated in Pola, Tuimalata Puletiuatoa, She enrolled at Samoana the Speech Festival, served Simone Sanitoa, Suli Sataua, High School where she flour- as Junior Class Treasurer, and Duncan Seva’aetasi, Feiloai ished and fulfilled a myriad was a member of the yearbook Thompson, Cinta Tua’au, of accomplishments — main- staff. Tuato’o participated in Catherina Tuaolo, Kapiolani taining a Cumulative Grade the Island-Wide Math Compe- Tuivaiti, Darius Shimasaki Point Average of 3.9, SAT tition, track and field, and is a Vaofanua, and Taeaomataaga score of 1050, and ACT of recipient of the Rotary 4-Way Voigt. 20. She is a member of the Test Award. Graduates who scored National Honor Society and She has been accepted to between 1010-1150 on the was elected NHS Treasurer. In numerous schools including SAT were: Garion Langford, addition, she is a member of Louisiana State University, Gina Coffin, Finiana Finau, the National Society of High University of Nevada, and UH Faith Faumuina, Darius Vao- School Scholars. but will be attending Univer- fanua, Zemirah Pati, Rac- She participated in many sity of Washington majoring in quel Balza, Suli Sataua, Sina academic activities and events molecular & cellular biology Kulberg, Brie-a’Nah Fruean, like the Science Fair, Math with a minor in mathematics. Susanna Lee, Taeao Voigt, Competition, History Day, Grace told Samoa News the Fuaautoa Amisone, Lei-Pualani Speech Festival, Political reason she wants to pursue this Amisone, Grace Tuatoo, and Forum, and Accounting Com- field of study is because she Marietta Lee. petition. She was also a member was inspired by her father, who Those with ACT scores of the Sharks Girls Basketball is a doctor. “My dad has been a between 18-24 were: Grace Team. role model for me growing up Tuatoo, Susanna Lee, Reinnette Accepted by six universities, so that’s why I want to major Noa, Darius Vaofanua, Mari- Fruean chose Dominican Uni- in this.” She advises her peers etta Lee, Finiana Finau, Faau versity in California where she to “Never be afraid, keep fol- Seumanutafa, Atipopo Tino, will be majoring in Biology. lowing your dreams, and keep Eteva Mauga, Theodora Pere- “I chose Biology because I hustling.” lini, Fuaautoa Amisone, Alai want to be in the medical field,” In addition to Fruean and Paleafei, Christina Mendoza, she told Samoa News. “My Tuato’o, other seniors who and Racquel Balza. favorite subjects are Science graduated with honors included: (More college acceptance and Math so this helps with my Tutulumanulagi Gloria Alail- details, scholarship offers, and major.” ima-Utu,