30 Apr 2015

Samoa school apologises for alleged sex crimes

8:41 am on 30 April 2015

A Samoa school has issued an apology after rape charges were brought against two students and an adult associated with the school during American Samoa's Flag Day celebrations.

All three were charged with rape, sexual assault, sexual abuse in the first degree and endangering the welfare of a child.

The principal of Samoa's Don Bosco Technical Centre, Father Christopher Ford, says the arrests have brought shame on the school.

Father Ford says the trio are now in custody and the legal process is taking its due course.

He says the adult was not a teacher at the school as originally reported but a volunteer who travelled to American Samoa with the group in an adult capacity.