The Secretary General of the Congregational Christ Church Samoa (C.C.C.S.), Reverend Dr. Taipisia Leilua has confirmed that the decision to remove a C.C.C.S reverend in Savaii involved in an alleged attempted rape case is not the final decision.

Speaking to this newspaper, Rev. Leilua explained that no official report has been delivered yet to the church elders who make the final call on the removal of any church minister.

"Normally, such cases are handled within the districts (Matagaluega) and they make the decision but that is not the final decision," he said.

"The process is, the matter is investigated within the parish (aulotu), then the sub-district (pulega), then they report it to the Reverend Elders within the district (Matagaluega) who make the call.

"Then the reverend elders (Faifeau Toeaiina) report it to the church board who make the final call."

Rev. Leilua explained that so far the board has yet to receive any official report from the district on the removal of the church minister from his post.

He also stressed that the decision can only be made during the annual conference (Fono Tele) next year and if the board reviews the report from the church district and finds it unsatisfying, then there is a chance the church minister can be returned to his post.

"It all depends on the evidence provided and reports of the investigations," he added,

Rev. Leilua was also asked whether the C.C.C.S church minister involved in the alleged rape fiasco is being removed from his post because of his illness or because of the rape allegations, the Secretary-General said he is not aware as there was no official report being brought to the board yet.

Meanwhile, the C.C.C.S church minister served at Letiu village in the Gagaifomauga sub-district (Pulega) within the Itu-o-Tane district (Matagaluega) in Savaii.

He is being investigated by police on the alleged attempted rape of a 15-year-old girl in Savaii earlier this month with the Police Commissioner saying the results of the investigations were to be out at the end of last week and this will determine if charges are to be laid.

However, Auapaau Logoitino Filipo confirmed in a previous interview that no charges have been warranted so far as investigations are still ongoing.

It is understood the church minister of the Congregational Christian Church Samoa (C.C.C.S.) has been removed from his post, while the victim's family was also banished from their village. 

According to people familiar with the case, the victim's biological father allegedly wanted to drop the case against the church minister, but he was also keen to stop any investigations by the Samoa Victim Support Group (S.V.S.G.) and the Police. 

Police on the other hand have said they have a "No Drop Policy" for such cases and this will ensure their ongoing investigations into this matter by the Criminal Investigations Division will not be stopped.

According to section 59 of the Crimes Act, sexual conduct with a young person under 16 – (1) A person who has a sexual connection with a young person is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years. (2) A person who attempts to have a sexual connection with a young person is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years. (3) A person who does an indecent act with or on a young person is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 7 years.

CLARIFICATION: The Samoa Observer in the Thursday 29 June 2023 edition reported on the Secretary General of CCCS confirming the decision to remove a church minister from his parish after he was allegedly involved in an attempted rape case in Savaii. The story published on page 3 said the decision is not final. However, it is understood that the removal of the said church minister from the parish in Savaii is final. Whether he remains a church minister or not will be a decision to be determined by the Elders of the Church.