17 Aug 2010

Samoa Red Cross dispute reaches Supreme court

10:46 am on 17 August 2010

A stand-off between the board and financial members of Samoa Red Cross has reached the Supreme Court.

The Chief Justice Patu Falefatu Sapolu is expected to respond this week to an apparent defiance of an injunction he issued last Thursday that society members not hold an extraordinary meeting.

But the meeting was held the next day and members sacked five of the nine board members, for a number of alleged offences, including misappropriation of funds and conflict of interest.

Muagututagata Peter Ah Him, who insists he is still the Samoa Red Cross president, says the Friday meeting was illegal.

Muagututagata has denied the allegations made against him and the other board members.

Opponents of the board say millions of dollars of assistance will be lost if a proposal requiring board endorsement does not reach the International Red Cross by the end of this month.