Sāmoa cabinet minister charged in case related to teenager's death

Sāmoa Cabinet Minister La’auli Leuatea Schmidt has been charged with multiple offences following allegations related to the 2021 death of a teenager, according to the Sāmoa Observer.

La’auli, Sāmoa's Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries and chairman of the Fa’atuatua i le Atua Sāmoa ua Tasi (F.A.S.T.) Party was charged after spending two hours in police custody in Apia on Friday morning.

The charges include fabricating evidence, conspiracy to commit an offence, defamation, and harassment via electronic means.

The Sāmoa Observer reported that Police Commissioner Auapaau Logoitino Filipo confirmed the charges, describing them as a significant development in the ongoing investigation.

La’auli is on bail and is set to appear in court on 4 February to address the charges.

He has denied the allegations, saying he had fully cooperated with police investigations and provided evidence to prove his innocence.

In a video released on Thursday, La’auli revealed that the cabinet had even suggested involving overseas police to assist with the investigation.

La'auli Leuatea Schmidt, centre, leaving the police station after being charged. Photo/Sāmoa Observer/Junior S. Ami

But he added that the response was that there was insufficient evidence to proceed at the time.

He also claimed that his efforts to shed light on the teenager’s unsolved death had made him a target.

“I am clean from all of this,” La’auli said, adding that he remains confident the truth will prevail.

According to the Observer, this latest development has caused ripples in Samoa's political landscape, raising questions about the impact on the F.A.S.T. party and its leadership.

La’auli called on his supporters, family, and constituents to remain calm, assuring them that "nothing is hidden under the sun and what’s done in the darkness will be brought to the light".