17 Nov 2005

American Samoa Government decides against charging New Zealand businessman for drug possession

8:20 pm on 17 November 2005

The government in American Samoa says it won't file charges against a New Zealand businessman who brought marijuana into the territory.

The Assistant Attorney General, Frederick O'Brien, says the amount of marijuana was too little to warrant charges.

Mr O'Brien says cases where offenders have been jailed involved more significant quantities of controlled substances.

He says he did not think it was worth the government prosecuting the case and possibly having to jail the man for up to five years.