The district court in Samoa has convicted an American Samoa official of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints of one count of possession of an unlawful weapon.
The defendant, Tanielu Atuai, was arrested last month before boarding a return flight to American Samoa after airport security found a 45 magnum revolver pistol including five bullets in his hand bag.
He was kept in police custody until charges were filed.
The defendant who is the first assistant of a bishop in his church in Malaeimi village has admitted to the charges.
He has been ordered to pay a fine of more than 1,000 US dollars.
