The line of authority between village and territorial law in American Samoa has once again been highlighted with the sentencing of a village mayor.
The Mayor of Pago Pago village was fined 1,000 US dollars and placed on probation for two years for assault, after he took action against two men who were making noise during curfew.
Our correspondent in Pago Pago, Monica Miller, says such cases show the government wants to make the line of authority clear:
"Even though a village mayor was involved, even that didn't stop the government and I think that government wanted to make an example that this is not on, that even people in authority that are overstepping the law they can be charged."
Pago Pago correspondent, Monica Miller
