7 Jun 2006

Appeal against Samoa movie ban fails

3:12 pm on 7 June 2006

The manager of the only cinema in Samoa, Maposua Rudolf Keil, has failed in his appeal against the ban of the film, The Da Vinci Code, which is based on a popular novel.

Maposua argued that the government censor has no authority to ban a movie but to make ratings only.

His lawyer wasn't presented at today's hearing at which a Catholic priest said all Catholic followers support the Archbishop's call for the movie to be banned.

Maposua then told the hearing that what the priest had said was a threat.

Maposua has now decided to return the film to Sony pictures in New Zealand.

Churches in Fiji, Kiribati and Papua New Guinea have also spoken out against the screening of the film.