Police file 10 charges against the Minister of Agriculture

By Lagi Keresoma/

Apia, Samoa – 03 January 2025 – The police today filed 10 charges against the Minister of Agriculture & Fisheries, Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Schmidt.

The charges relate to the unresolved hit and run traffic incident that took the life of a young university student at Vaitele in April 2021.

Already, 5 other defendants that include Member of Parliament Fepulea’i Faimata Su’a, former Police Inspector Li’o Fa’ataumalamala Auava, Lise Schmidt, Samuelu Su’a and Sivai Kepi are facing similar charges and the matter is pending in the District Court in May.

The 10 charges against Laauli include 4 of conspiracy and 6 related to comments made on social media allegedly defaming two police officers and an Australian citizen.

He will appear in court on 4 February 2025 for mention.

According to Laauli, facing criminal charges is not new to him as he also faced 300 plus charges in a previous legal matter which were all dismissed.

He resigned as the Minister of Agriculture & Fisheries then under the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP).

Asked if he would resign from his position as a Minister of Cabinet because of the new charges, Laauli said that would be up to Cabinet.

“I resigned back then because I knew no-one from HRPP supported me and I was already sacked from the party,” said Laauli.

Rumours of the latest charges had been circulating for a long time and when asked if he knew why it took police so long to press charges, he said no.

Police closing off public access to the station this morning.

Police headquarter lock down
The police erected steel security fences to block the public and media access to the police headquarters before and while the police charging process was in progress.

Police also avoided media enquiries about the lockdown. However, after he was charged, Laauli told the media and FAST supporters that he also asked police why the lock-down.

“I was told by the police officer who charged me that the lock down was for my own protection,” he said.

Pushing further, Laauli wanted to know protection from who, but was told in-case photographers and reporters come.

Laauli said this mornings lock-down reminded him of the time the FAST Members of Parliament came down to be sworn in as the Government back in May 2021 but were met by metal security fences cordoning off the whole Tiafau Malae and the parliament building was locked and guarded by police.

FAST supporters call for justice
As he was being charged by police, a group of FAST supporters both local, Australia and US, gathered under a bus shelter across from the FESA headquarters singing and chanting “We want justice”.

Laauli was at the police headquarters from 10.00am to around 12.30 and later met with the media and supporters at the party headquarters at Tuanaimato.

He called for calm and as the case is before the court, he along with the others charged, will seek justice “as the four year old hit and run case remains unresolved while we who helped police with new information are now being charged for conspiracy.”

PM call for the process of the law to proceed
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa released a statement calling for the process of the law to proceed in the case. She was travelling to attend the inauguration of the new Governor and Lieutenant Governor of American Samoa today.

The PM said much have been said and allegations made including criticisms against police in their handling of the investigation into the hit and run case.

Progressing this case is proper as that is where proof or otherwise of the charges against those charged be made. “The court is where every Samoan is protected under the law in the search for justice,” she said.

The PM also reminded of the FAST Governments stance for the rule of law and the Court decision that ruled the swearing in of the MPs under the tent was legal, opened the political impasse and a new government to take over in July 2021.

She said police investigations are progressing and are preparing charges for more people in relation to this case.

Laauli has previously criticized the police handling of his complaints already filed against the Leader of the Opposition Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi and MP Lealailepule who named him and the late MP Vaele Iona Paiaaua for involvement in the unresolved hit and run case. Vaele’s wife also filed a complaint with the police but nothing has come out of it.