11 Oct 2004

American Samoa's High Court throws out claims of double jeopardy in fraud case

6:56 am on 11 October 2004

The American Samoa High Court has ruled out a bid by a former manager of the School Lunch Programme to dismiss local charges against him citing the rule which is known as double jeopardy.

Toetu Solaita argued that he was being prosecuted locally for the same crime he had already pleaded guilty to in the federal case.

Locally, Toetu is charged with felony embezzlement for the alleged misappropriation of School lunch program food and supplies.

In the federal case, he was charged with one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States.

The double jeopardy clause provides that a person can't be prosecuted twice for the same crime.