A 44-year-old father and drug related suspect died on Friday afternoon following a police raid of his home in Sinamoga. Mateo Peseta Kofe affectionately known by his friends and family as “Maddy” was the target of a police drug bust when they raided his home at Sinamoga on Friday
His death has come as a shock to his family, friends and Sinamoga community, with many saying he was beaten by Police when they entered his home to carry out the operation.
Police had called an ambulance to Maddy’s Sinamoga home, but they have been silent as to the circumstances leading up to his death, saying an investigation is underway.
Acting Police Commissioner Leiataua Samuelu Afamasaga confirmed to SGN that Maddy died following the raid, but says “there is no evidence that police assaulted him at this time..”
Sources from the victim’s friends and family say Police raided the Sinamoga home as part of a drug operation, and allegedly assaulted the suspect, now deceased.
The Acting Police Commissioner denies the allegation, suggesting there was another person in the house during the raid and says a full investigation into the matter is being conducted.
“E leai se evidence i le taimi nei sa faaoolima ai se leleo. E iai foi le tagata sa i le fale o lē ua maliu”.
Acting Police Commissioner, Leiataua Samuelu Afamasaga. Photo: Perolini Nuumia, Gvt Press.
The Acting Commissioner insists the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) is following a process “for these kinds of investigations.”
“O loo uia uma le process o le suesuega e le CID e ala i tulafono ma faiga faavae o suesuega faapea.”
Leiataua says priority is being given to ensure a thorough investigation is carried out.
“O loo ave ai foi le faamuamua ina ia mautinoa e manino mea uma i le maliu o lē ua maliu.”
He says the ambulance service was called, but did not confirm why police had to call an ambulance or what injuries Maddy had sustained.
“Sa valaau le ambulance ma ave ai foi i le falemai i Motootua mai lona aiga i Sinamoga..”
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“Ae o loo faaauau suesuega i le taimi nei.”
The Fire and Emergency Services Authority Commissioner, Tanuvasa Petone Mauga, confirmed FESA were called to a location at Sinamoga at about 3 o’clock on Friday.
Tanuvasa could not confirm what type of injuries Maddy had suffered.
Sources close to the victim say he was beaten by police and allege that his death was caused by police brutality and assault.
“Na fasi fasi e leoleo toe fetagofi lea vili le ambulance, ae ua maliu lava si tama..”
Another source said they are hearing that a drug overdose is being blamed for Maddy’s death, but the other person who was in the house with Maddy during the raid should have witnessed what happened.
“Ga fasi e leoleo si kama o Maddy i ō le fale, faakoa ave ai i le falemai, a lea ua faalogo aku faimai overdose, lā e iloa e lesi kagaka sā i le fale ma Maddy iga ua o aku le osofaiga.”
Maddy had been arrested back in December 2025 during an earlier round of Police drug busts. He was out on bail during Friday’s raid.
Another Alleged Case of Police Assault
Just days before Maddy’s death, Senior Lawyer Unasa Iuni Sapolu had posted pictures of one of her clients, showing severe injuries to his face especially around the eyes.
One of the victim’s eyes is stitched and severely injured and Unasa called for an MRI and x-ray to rule out internal bleeding.
Unasa confirmed the victim is in his 20’s and the incident occurred on Wednesday this week.
For that case, Acting Commissioner Leiataua said the man has been wanted for over 10 years and had multiple arrest warrants out on him.
“Ua ova i le 10 tausaga o sue e leoleo i ana outstanding warrant of arrest..”
“Sa sola ina ua taunuu atu le osofaiga a leoleo ma tuli ai e leoleo ma toe maua mai ai..
According to the Acting Police Commissioner, the suspect resisted arrest, and his inquiries were caused due to a “fall”.
“Na aafia i le taimi na taumafai ai leoleo e faatino le arrest ae refuse, ma aafia ai i nisi o vaega ma pa’ū ai.”
The victim’s lawyer, Unasa Iuni Sapolu says there is no excuse for police assaulting civilians while they are being held in custody.
“How can the police be trusted to look after a man who has been seriously assaulted, when they are the ones who assaulted him in the first place?” she said.
“Police outnumbered him, more than five of them assaulted him,” Unasa alleged.
“Then police took him to hospital but left to lock him up in prison without an x-ray or a scan to confirm if there was internal bleeding or not.”
“Whether raid or not, this is attempted murder by police on a young man in his 20’s, a father of young children,” added Unasa.
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