23 Dec 2008

Legal claim against Samoa government over switch of road side withdrawn

11:41 am on 23 December 2008

The Supreme Court in Samoa has withdrawn legal action by a lobby group against the government's controversial Road Transport Reform Act 2008.

PASS or People Against Switching Sides' legal claim also sought remedies against the prime minister and his government as well as the Transport Control Board.

The withdrawal of the action came during the hearing of the Attorney General's strike out motion against the legal action.

But the lawyer and chairman of PASS, Tole'afoa Solomona To'ailoa, told the court its reconsidering its case and wished to withdraw its action.

The Attorney General, Aumua Ming Leung Wai, says the strike out motion was lodged against the PASS action because the government believed the group's case had no prospect of being successful at trial.

Meanwhile, the court has granted leave for a second amended motion by PASS to be filed by January 19 on the constitutional validity of the Road Transport Reform.