Sāmoan cabinet minister removed as he faces multiple criminal charges

Sāmoa's Prime Minister Fiamē Naomi Mata’afa has dismissed La'auli Leuatea Schmidt from Cabinet following criminal charges filed against him.

The prime minister announced in a written statement after a week of speculation about whether La’auli would retain his position as Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries.

Last Friday, La’auli was charged by police with three counts of conspiracy or attempt to defeat or pervert the course of justice, one of conspiracy to commit an offence (fabricate evidence), one of harassment utilising means of electronic communication, three counts of false statement causing harm to a person's reputation, and two counts of using insulting words with intent to provoke a breach of the peace.

Since then, the Commissioner of Police, Auapa'au Logoitino Filipo, has clarified that the charges were not in relation to the case of a 19-year-old who was the victim of a hit-and-run four years ago.

Sāmoa Prime Minister Fiamē Naomi Mata'afa during the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Apia last year. Photo/file

Auapa’au said La’auli's charges were not for that case as speculated on social media.

He said there was a lot of misinformation on social media, which caused confusion.

"Speculation regarding the connection between the two cases is unhelpful and potentially misleading," he said.

"The current charges are based on specific alleged offences and are being handled through the usual legal channels."

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

Sāmoa Police Commissioner Auapa'au Logoitino Filipo says social media misinformation about the criminal charges is causing confusion. Photo/Sāmoa Observer

He also has a travel ban imposed, which restricts him from leaving the country.

Last Thursday, La’auli took to social media claiming 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.