A Samoan community leader in New Zealand says the corruption and bribery case against Taito Philip Field was not about the cultural practice of gifting or lafo.
Field, the former associate Pacific Islands Affairs Minister, has been found guilty of 11 of 12 corruption and bribery charges, and 15 of 23 charges of obstructing justice, related to giving immigration favours in return for work on his properties.
A supporter of Taito Philip Field has suggested the jury may not have understood the Pacific practice of gifting.
But a former chair of the Samoan Advisory Council, Faamatuainu
Tino Pereira disagrees.
"I don't think the issue of cultural practice was under scrutiny here in terms of this particular court case. I think what was under scrutiny here was the practice which he engaged in. But I have to say though, that given that there is a fairly sad commentary in terms of his particular career. I mean there's a lot of hurt feelings amongst the community about this."
Faamatuainu says Field's actions should not be held against the entire Pacific community and a lot of Pacific MPs are doing a great job.
