A church in Samoa has been fined $5,000 tālā, for holding a church service on Sunday in breach of the COVID-19 State of Emergency orders for the current Alert Level 3.
Deputy Police Commissioner, Auapa’au Logoitino Filipo, told the Samoa Observer the church had been fined but he could not identify the church.
The fine is one of many that have been issued since the current nationwide lockdowns that began on March 17th, 2022, when the first community transmission case was identified.
Auapa’au said, so far 37 citations have been issued for breach of the emergency orders.
He said that most of the citations were issued in Savai’i.
Auapa’au said some of the fines were issued to local businesses, including three shops that broke the emergency orders by selling alcohol during the lockdown period.
“During the lockdown, we have made arrests in relation to alcohol; some were driving under the influence of alcohol while others were drinking in public places and also caused disturbances.”
However, he said that there have not been many domestic violence cases which he attributed to the absence of alcohol sales.
“We also thank the support from village councils in ensuring there is less movement within villages and making sure that villagers comply with the orders.”
