6 May 2004

Man pleads guilty in American Samoa power case

6:30 am on 6 May 2004

A man has pleaded guilty to two charges of wire fraud in connection with an overpayment case at the American Samoa power authority.

Siakisone Jack Liu's guilty plea was part of an agreement proposed by the federal government in which he has agreed to co-operate with his prosecutors.

Liu faces a sentence of up to two years for wire fraud, which in US law is a crime relating to using telephone lines for illegal ends.

Liu's co-defendant Tafao Tagaloa was also expected to enter a plea bargain, but her lawyer told the court she intended to go to trial. Tagaloa is on a US$50,000 bail surety.