21 Jan 2003

First suit over upaid bills from controversial Fono jubilee celebrations in American Samoa five year

6:03 pm on 21 January 2003

The first lawsuit seeking the payment of unpaid invoices from the 1998 Fono Golden Jubliee celebration, has been filed in the American Samoa High Court.

The Samoa Post says the suit by local businessman Kelemete Misipeka seeks over 33-thousand US dollars for unpaid invoices as well as over 9-thousand dollars in interest.

Mr Misipeka's company provided the sound system during the entire six day celebrations and in court documents he said that despite his efforts, the Fono had failed to make any payments.

Mr Misipeka says payments were approved by then Jubilee Committee chairman, Senator Moaaliitele Tuufuli and re-certified in October last year by the Fono financial officer, Velega Savali.

The Jubilee Committee overspent public funds by more than half-a-million dollars.