18 Aug 2014

American Samoa's jailing of Indonesian men challenged

7:42 pm on 18 August 2014

American Samoa's Attorney General's office is being asked to justify detaining four Indonesian men who claim to be victims of human trafficking.

KHJ News reports the men sought help from the Human Tracking Task Force last week which placed them in a government shelter but they were taken to jail soon after.

An attorney, Mark Ude, says the men are being detained illegally and he has requested the High Court order the Attorney General's office to explain why the men were not given a hearing before their arrest.

He has also asked the High Court to order the men's release and for a hearing to be held as soon as possible.