The Attorney General’s Office has slapped Samoa Airways with another fine, the second one this month. This time, the Samoa carrier is fined USD$1,000 for allowing a NZ passport holder to travel to the territory last Thursday without legal authority, and neither a permit or OK Board.
New Zealand is one of the countries whose citizens that are allowed to enter visa free, but they have to apply online for an OK board.
Samoa’s Minister for Public Enterprises, Leatinuu Wayne So’oialo, whose portfolio covers Samoa’s national airline, confirmed to the Samoa Observer that Samoa Airways now has to pay a total of USD$1,500 for two immigration breaches.
The first incident involved Samoa’s former associate minister for Police, Fepuleai Fa’asavalu Su’a who traveled here November 3 without a permit or OK board, and tried to use his diplomatic passport to enter.
According to the law, the Attorney General can fine an airline up to $1,000 for violations of immigration rules, however, AG Fainuulelei Alalilima-Utu said since the airline CEO and the Samoa Government had apologized the fine for the associate minister’s case was reduced to $500.
Minister Leatinuu told the Samoa Observer after the latest incident, “It’s a concern and I’m very disappointed about what occurred. It’s not good for the image of the company especially breaching immigration laws between the two countries.”
