Two American Samoa chiefs from Fagamalo village have been sentenced for a third degree assault stemming from their enforcement of a fishing ban under a government sanctioned programme.
Faipea Taliloa and Taliloa Faletogo were placed on probation for one year and fined $300 each.
The charges relate to an incident in August last year in which the two chiefs put the lives of two young fishermen in danger by seizing their fishing boat while they were diving, and ignoring their pleas for help in getting back to shore.
At the time Fagamalo was observing a ban on fishing as part of a conservation plan which the village had signed with the government.
