One of three people standing trial in Samoa on charges of receiving money by deception has been discharged.
Samoa’s Chief Justice, Patu Falefatu Sapolu Photo: RNZI / Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia
The elderly Samoan man was discharged by the chief justice, Patu Falefatu Sapolu, who says the remaining defendants - a woman and a European man - still have a case to answer.
The trio were charged after an investigation into a report from the Central Bank of Samoa that alleged the defendants were involved in a money scam that originated in Thailand.
One prosecution witness is a Thai police officer who told the court the operation was a scam and has been closed down in Thailand, and the perpetrators fled the country.
