8 Nov 2011

Samoan policewomen convicted of assaulting female prisoner

4:45 pm on 8 November 2011

Two Samoa police women, accused of beating a woman suspect while in police custody, have been found guilty by the chief justice, Patu Falefatu Sapolu.

Police sergeant Efo Moalele was found guilty of one count of assault.

Constable Ferila Papalii was convicted on charges of causing actual bodily harm.

The officers stood trial in September last year following a police inquiry into allegations they'd beaten Faasalafa Sione, a woman who had pleaded guilty to the murder of her 14 year old daughter four years earlier.

They are on bail awaiting a probation report and sentence on the 21st of this month.