11 Jun 2015

Three in Samoa court over alleged pyramid scheme

11:19 am on 11 June 2015

Three people in Samoa have been in court on eight charges linked to an alleged pyramid scheme.

Court house in Samoa

Court house in Samoa Photo: RNZ / Mary Baines

The three, a London-based Samoan woman, a Greek man and a church minister have been charged with eight counts of obtaining money by deception.

The criminal charges are linked to an alleged scam in which several people gave the trio sums of up to US$15,000.

The police say more people have come forward with complaints against the accused.

The Central Bank of Samoa became suspicious of the group's operation after local banks informed it about large sums of money being transferred out of the country.

A lawyer representing the suspects is seeking their name suppression.