PM Contradictions – Charges Against Laauli Relate to 2021 Hit & Run Case

By Lagi Keresoma/

Apia, Samoa – 14 January 2025 – Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa confirmed at today’s press conference that the charges against former Cabinet Minister Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao are related to the unresolved hit and run incident that killed a university student Tuuau Maletino at Vaitele in April 2021.

However, this statement directly contradicts her press statement released after the press conference this morning that said “Misinformation has since spread uncontrollably on social media platforms alleging that Hon. La’auli had been charged in connection to the death of Mr Tu’uau Maletino.

“I emphatically maintain this is not true. The case and investigation into the death of Mr Tu’uau Maletino remains open, and the Police are continuing their investigation,” said the Prime Minister.

The contradiction however poses the question whether the Prime Minister has been misinformed by the police as the press statement focus on political motives behind the charges that spark a rift within the FAST party and isolates any connection or relation to the unresolved four year old hit and run case.

So far, Laauli and four others have been charged in connection to an investigation that police deemed illegal into the hit and run incident.

The charges against them include conspiracy or attempt to defeat or pervert the course of justice, defamation, harassment, issuing false information and using insulting words.

However after four years since the incident, police have yet to charge anyone directly involved in the death of the young student.

In response to media questions, Fiame said that the reason why this issue has taken centre stage is because of things said on social media and the involvement of MPs who are decision makers and leaders of the country.

Police Unfair treatment
Two years ago, the Opposition Leader Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi and party Secretary Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi named Laauli and his late Associate Minister Vaele Iona Paiaaua as those involved in the death of the young man.

They named the Commissioner of Police, Auapaau Logoitino Filipo as their source of information saying Vaele’s wife made the admission in a confession to the Police Commissioner.

Laauli and Vaele’s wife then filed complaints with the police for defamation.

Yet, still no charges have been laid prompting Laauli to publicly criticize the police for favoritism and unfair treatment of their cases especially after reports started to circulate on the Opposition social pages about police charging and locking Laauli up, well before he was actually charged on 3 January 2025.

“But the hit and run incident that killed the young man, no one has been charged,” Fiame told the media this morning. “Lealailepule has not been charged and others, but it has been used as a continuing political game,” she said.

The press release further stated that the processing of these charges before the Courts is the only recourse to examine and determine the course of justice.

“At the same time, it is important to observe the presumption of innocence that a person is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law,” Fiame said in her media release.