Pacific / Samoa

Samoa MP, guilty of forgery, resigns

07:28 am on 21 February 2015

Samoa's Associate Minister of Trade, Commerce and Industry has resigned as MP for Sagaga Le Usoga.

Guilty... Samoa's Associate Minister for Trade and Commerce, Muagututagata Peter Ah Him. Photo: RNZI / Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia

Muagututagata Peter Ah Him was found guilty on two charges of forgery by the Supreme Court, and is due for a pre-hearing sentence next week.

Muagututagata, who has represented his constituency for almost three parliamentary terms, announced his shock resignation in parliament, telling the house that he thinks it's time for him to leave.

He was found guilty of the charges in January following a complaint by a Chinese company in which he was a shareholder