11 Dec 2006

Samoa Worship Centre church penalised for smuggling right hand-drive vehicle

12:34 pm on 11 December 2006

The Customs department in Samoa has penalised the Worship Centre church after its officers uncovered a second hand car belonging to the church smuggled into the country without the Church declaring it.

The Customs chief executive officer, Sialafau Paul Meredith, says the dyna pick-up was dismantled and packed into the container of car spare parts for the church from New Zealand.

He says it was planned that the vehicle would be assembled in Samoa if it got through customs.

Silafau says the church has been asked to pay an un-disclosed fine.

Right hand-drive vehicles from New Zealand and Australia have been banned since 2004.

Meanwhile the customs is investigating a similar case involving a church minister.