The Digicel mobile phone company in Samoa has entered a not guilty plea to two charges under the Gaming Act 1978 relating to its recent text competition to celebrate one year of operation since November 2006.
Digicel's General Manager in Apia, Pepe Christian Freuan, attended the first hearing in the District Court.
The mobile phone company is alleged to have operated an illegal lottery in relation to the text competition without being registered under the Gaming Act.
The company's boss has been quoted in reports as saying that people with vested interests were behind the legal action.
The case has been adjourned until June 2008.
