18 Dec 2018

More ministers appear in Samoan court on tax issue

3:37 pm on 18 December 2018

Ten more ministers of the Congregational Christian Church of Samoa have appeared in the District Court to answer charges of failing to file income tax returns.

No caption

Photo: 123rf

Included in the 10 was the vice chairman of the church, Reverend Elder Tunumoso Iosia.

The case is the first under laws introduced this year that requires church ministers to pay tax on donations received from their congregation.

Defence counsel Alex Su'a asked the judge if the cases could be called together but his request was declined because they have been charged individually.

Mr Su'a then asked if the matter could be adjourned until he has taken further instruction from his clients.

He asked the court for the next hearing to be on 5 February, so the matter could be heard along with nine other ministers who appeared last week.

The matter was adjourned without plea and bail conditions were waived.

Get the RNZ app

for ad-free news and current affairs