Police ask court to admit the late Sia Figiel’s affidavit as evidence

By Lagi Keresoma/

Apia, SAMOA – 24 April 2026: Police have applied to the Court to accept the late Papalii Sia Figiel’s affidavit as hearsay evidence in the case against Lisemarie Schmidt.

Papalii died at Tanumalala Prison in January this year and was the key witness for police.

Prosecutor Su’a Leone Mailo applied to the court to consider Papali’is affidavit admissible.

The District Court Judge Papalii Rosela Alalatoa has given the defence two weeks to respond to the application and set a special fixture for hearing in August.

The charges against Lisemarie
Lise is charged with 19 charges which includes fabrication of information, misleading information which led to the risk of investigating then Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa.

The allegations were made in a letter Lise wrote to the Head of State and copied the Attorney General and the then Police Commissioner, Auapaau Logoitino Filipo.

Police investigated the allegations and later charged Lise on the grounds that there was no proof of the allegations against Fiame.

Lisemarie has pleaded not guilty to all the charges, and the hearing was scheduled for November 2026.

However, police application prompted the recalling of the matter today,

Judge Papalii has adjourned the matter to next week Friday for the defence to submit their response.