9 Dec 2011

Samoa Parliament to debate new Crimes bill

5:04 pm on 9 December 2011

An amended Crimes Bill in Samoa will be submitted to parliament in two weeks after the Cabinet endorsed the final draft.

The bill reforms the Crime Ordinance 1961, which has mostly remained unchanged in 50 years.

The Ordinance doesn't reflect advances in technology and society and doesn't cover some crimes such as terrorism, money laundering, corruption and human trafficking.

Cabinet also endorsed that this Bill be tabled in Parliament before January 2012, to avoid Samoa from being blacklisted by Financial Action Task Force.