Defense counsel would be seeking a discharge without conviction for her client, who is a first offender.
The Court heard that Perez was contracted to play rugby in Romania, and his itinerary was submitted to the Court. It showed that he was to return to his club at the end of this month.
However Judge Talasa Atoa Saaga said a lot had been impacted by Perez arrest, including the defendant’s contract.
“Ua telē le afaina o le ua molia e oʻo lava foʻi i lana konekarate, o lea ua maea tilotilo foʻi i le konekarate ua tuuina atu ma e foliga mai e tolu vaega ua solia o aiaiga o lea konekarate i le taimi nei..
“E le mamā le moliaga aemaise o le itu o lea e taumafai ia ʻaloese mai tupulaga o le atunuʻu mai auala faa-solitulafono nei.
“Mo se tagata o loo iai se konekarate faapea i atunuu i fafo o se amapasa o Samoa e tatau ona silafia e outou pe afai e faila mai la tou talosaga o le a le mama le silasila iai a le Faamasinoga.”
Judge Atoa Saaga also informed Prosecution that they needed to look into the application and the grounds they would be basing their decision on.
“E taua foi i le itu a leoleo ona tagai maeaea lelei i le talosaga lea ona faailoa mai lea poo a itu taua o le a fua i ai se ioega, po’o le leai foʻi o se faasalaga e faasaoloto ai le ua molia e aunoa ma le faamauina o sana solitulafono.”
The Court has set the 26th of this month for defense to file their discharge without conviction application, and the prosecution is set to file their response to the application by the 10th of July.
The Court will deliver its decision on the 17th of July 2026.
