Samoa Prime Minister found not guilty in high-profile conspiracy case

Samoan Prime Minister La'aulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Schmidt. Photo / Savali Newspaper, Samoa Government

Samoa’s Prime Minister Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Schmidt has been cleared of all charges in a high-profile conspiracy case.

The Samoa Observer reports that Laaulialemalietoa and five others appeared in the District Court in Apia on Friday for a verdict over charges including conspiring to pervert the course of justice, fabricating evidence, harassment and making false, defamatory statements.

The charges stem from an investigation launched by the prime minister into an unresolved, fatal hit-and-run in 2021, involving a student in Vaitele.

Also cleared were Fepuleai Faimata Sua, Fataumalama Lio, and Lise-Marie Schmidt.

Senior District Court Judge Talasa Atoa-Saaga found Sam Sua guilty of eight counts of defamation and Sivai Kepi guilty of two counts of perverting the course of justice.

Judge Atoa-Saaga adjourned her ruling three times before declaring that four of the six were innocent today.

Laaulialemalietoa has always maintained his innocence and publicly said he would be cleared.

This is a developing story. RNZ Pacific will have more as information comes to hand.

– RNZ