Medical Certificate a cover up, says Constable Taefu

By Lagi Keresoma/

Apia, Samoa – 11 June 2025: One of the six defendants in the high-profile case now in its third week in the District Court presented a medical certificate to explain why she failed to sign in at the Faleata police outpost on the 9 February 2025. As a result, she was charged with breaching her bail conditions.

Police witness, Corporal Malaeimi Taefu, said the accused Lise Schmidt, presented a medical certificate too late as a means to cover up her failure of not complying with her bail conditions.

He explained that the police have a book where every person issued with bail conditions must sign according to the dates and time ordered by the Court.

Taefu said Lise failed to sign and no valid reason was given except a medical certificate noted on 9 February 2025 on the police record book.

He further said the medical certificate has the date 8 to 10 February but at the bottom of the same document is the date the medical certificate was released which is 16 February 2025.

“That was also the same date (16 February) the medical certificate was brought to the office which is also the date for her to sign in,” said Taefu.

Taefu said Lise was trying to use the medical certificate to conceal her failure of breaching one of her bail conditions.

Lise is jointly charged with Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Schmidt, former Member of Parliament Fepuleai Faimata Sua, former Police Inspector Li’o Fa’ataumalama Auava, Samuelu (Sam) Su’a and Sivai Kepi.

Lise’s lawyer, King’s Counsel Richard Marchant reminded Taefu that when Lise turned up to sign on the 16 February 2025, she presented the medical certificate to the police officer on duty who accepted the medical certificate.

“Yes and Lise continued to sign in,” said Taefu.

“Yes, except you charged Lise on the 21 February for breaching bail conditions?” asked Marchant.

He pointed out that one police officer accepted the reason why Lise missed to sign and another police officer charged her after she provided a very valid reason for not signing in.

Lise was unwell hence the medical certificate to prove yet, Taefu charged her on suspicion based on the late presentation of the medical certificate.

Taefu argued  that there was a big gap between the dates from 8 to 16 and to him, it looks suspicious that Lise was trying to use the medical certificate to conceal her failure.

“Are you saying the doctor conspired with Lise to cover that period?” asked Marchant.

“No,” said Taefu.

The case continues.