A 21-year-old man from Faleatiu accused of kidnapping a 17-year-old he claimed to have had a relationship with pleaded not guilty to charges before the Supreme Court. 

Willow Faisauvale pleaded not guilty to charges of kidnapping, unlawful sexual connection, rape and indecent assault on Monday this week. 

The defendant was represented by defence lawyer Lucy Sio Ofoia and was released on bail pending his hearing on 16 June 2025. 

The matter was reported to the police by the family of the victim alleging the defendant approached the teenager on the road when she was on her way home from the shop. 

It is alleged that the teenager provided direction but the suspect insisted that she get in the car to assist. 

The family of the complainant claimed the accused drove off to Faleatiu and kept the young woman against her will including allegations of sexual assault. 

Police subsequently put out a public notice in search of the 21-year-old as the authority commenced an investigation into allegations of kidnapping and unlawful sexual conduct. 

A friend of the defendant and the accused himself went on social media to deny the allegations claiming the complainant was in a relationship with him. The defendant claimed he was a church boy and called out the complainant to come back to him to iron out their relationship. 

He was captured shortly after his online video went viral and was formally charged by the police.