28 Apr 2010

Bank robber suspects in Samoa named

7:35 am on 28 April 2010

The four men alleged to have robbed a Westpac bank in Samoa earlier this month appeared in court yesterday for the first time.

The accused are Shane Chan Tong of Togafu'afu'a village, Faiga Victor Tanielu, and brothers Robert and Nasario Chong Nee of Aleisa village.

The group have yet to enter pleas to the holding charges of robbery as police investigations are still continuing.

The case has been adjourned to May the 17th to give the prosecution time to finalise charges, and for three of the four defendants to consult legal counsels to represent them.

Meanwhile, the police have discovered over 30,000 US dollar of the more than 120,000 dollars stolen in the robbery.

Police have also charged separately another man from Tapatapao village for receiving part of the stolen money and the suspect is scheduled to appear in the district court today.