4 Jul 2019

Samoa church not budging from tax position

From , 3:04 pm on 4 July 2019

A Samoa court has thrown out a case against 20 pastors from Samoa's largest church, who were charged with tax evasion.

The Congregational Christian Church has been in a feud with the government for a year, after a new law was passed requiring ministers to pay income tax, which they're refusing to pay.

On Thursday, the district court threw out the case, saying the prosecution did not have enough evidence for it to proceed.

19 more pastors face trial next month - also for tax evasion - and the general secretary of the Congregational Christian Church, Reverend Vavatau Taufao, says they're prepared to go to jail.

He told Jamie Tahana the church is not budging from its position.

Congregational Christian Church of Samoa pastors

Congregational Christian Church of Samoa pastors Photo: RNZ Pacific /Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia