PM denies allegations of her involvement in Dr. Gabbard’s death

Apia, Samoa – 25 March 2025 – Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa has denied allegations of her involvement in the death of the late Sinavaiana Dr. Caroline Gubbard as alluded to by Lise Marie Schmidt in a letter to the Attorney General and Police.

At a press conference yesterday, Fiame said nothing like that happened.

“Ou te le fa’amaonia,” she said.

She reminded the media that at the time of Gabbard’s death, she was overseas.

Fiame however believes that the connection to her was perhaps because the accused in the death of Gabbard, Papalii Sia Figiel went to Lotofaga, Fiame’s village.

“You maybe are aware of the current situation with regards to messages thrown around especially on social media,” she said.

Fiame said she was informed by the police about the letter and she was surprised by the level which the letter was sent not only to the police and the Attorney General but the Head of State who summoned the police about the letter.

“This did not happen because of me but because the letter was addressed to the Head of State,” said Fiame.

In the letter to the Head of State, Lise Schmidt sought for her personal protection and from police given the sensitivity of the allegations she raised against the Prime Minister.

Fiame reminded the media that a police investigation found no proof of the allegations and now the matter is heading to the court.

Asked if she plans to file a claim against the person making the allegations, Fiame said she will get nothing out of it.

“If the investigation has found no proof, then that’s the end of the matter,” she said.

A Police statement said their investigation determined that the claims were false and misleading, with no sufficient evidence to substantiate the claims and as a result, Lise Marie Schmidt has been charged with conspiring to defeat the course of justice and providing false information to mislead the Police.