Court orders new investigation into unresolved hit & run and assassination allegation

By Lagi Keresoma/

Apia, SAMOA – 01 March 2026:  The District Court Senior Judge Talasa Atoa Saaga has ordered a fresh investigation into the unresolved hit and run incident that killed university student Tu’uau Maletino at Vaitele on 21 April 2021.

The order was issued when she delivered her ruling on the high-profile case of Prime Minister Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataiovao Schmidt and 5 other accused last Friday.

The decision cleared Laauli, former Member of Parliament, Fepuleai Faimata Su’a and former Police Inspector, Li’o Fa’ataumalama Auava of all allegations of conspiracy and perverting the course of justice.

The other three defendants, Samuelu Su’a, his wife Sivai Kepi and Lisemarie Schmidt, although cleared on some charges, but were found guilty of some charges that the written decision will detail.

In passing judgment, Judge Talasa Atoa Saaga referred to several aspects and evidence presented during the 5 weeks trial in May 2025 where police failed to investigate evidence provided by the defendants and other discrepancies noted.

Although the high-profile case was not a direct investigation of the hit and run incident, it was however based on an investigation that Laauli initiated when police came to a dead end in their investigation.

However, police turned around and charged Laauli and six others implicating the investigation as a conspiracy against a Member of Parliament who was first implicated by police in the death of Tu’uau.

Judge Talasa Atoa Saaga however ruled that the investigation was a not a conspiracy as its findings were handed over to the police to assist with the police investigation of the hit and run incident.

No stone unturned in new independent investigation
Judge Saaga ruled that the proper course that should have been taken in relation to the unresolved hit and run incident, was for an independent investigation away from the police.

After the hit and run incident in April 2021, police named MP Lealailepule as a suspect. A police investigation later cleared his name, but he was not interviewed in that police investigation.

Two years into the investigation, then Minister of Police, Faualo Harry Schuster declared his conflict of interest and refrained from any involvement in the investigation.

The Deputy Prime Minister at the time, Tuala Iosefo Ponifasio announced the Cabinet decision to engage overseas investigators to conduct an independent investigation in 2023. But the decision was called off by then Prime Minister, Fiame Naomi Mataafa when she returned from overseas.

Judge Saaga emphasized that the new investigation should “leave no stone unturned for the sake of the blood of the young student who died and for young and future generations of Samoans to feel safe and their lives respected and protected in their own country.”

Assassination allegation to be investigated
Included in the new investigation is the allegation by Sam Fauena Su’a that the Faleata 3 MP Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi gave him a gun sometime in 2021 to kill Laauli and former Cabinet Minister Olo Fiti Vaai.

Police chose to not investigate the allegation hence the court’s ruling.

During the trial last year, Superintendent Tupa’i Leleimalefaga who led the investigation confirmed Sam’s statement and a 45 pistol. He said the gun was confiscated from Afualo Daryl Mapu during a drug raid at his house.

Whilst Tupai admitted that he did not know much about pistols, he did confirm there was a pistol.

The assassination plot was also revealed by the former Police Commissioner, Auapaau Logoitino Filipo’s evidence in chief.

One of the defence counsels, Mapusua Tanya Toailoa pointed out during the trial that the assassination plot was a serious issue that should have been investigated properly.