28 Oct 2003

American Samoa to amend criminal fraud law

11:59 am on 28 October 2003

The government in American Samoa is to amend the territory's criminal fraud law after deficiencies in the statute resulted in the dismissal of fraud charges against two defendants.

District Court Judge John Ward says the statute, which was designed to help the attorney general's office prosecute cases involving fraud, was vague and too broad.

Last week one count of fraud against businessman Don Fuimaono and 10 fraud charges against the former chief procurement officer, Tafua Seumanutafa were dismissed.

Fuimaono now faces charges of stealing and deceptive business practice and Seumanutafa 18 stealing charges and 15 of misconduct.