Appeal filed against Samoan PM's acquittal over high-profile conspiracy case

Samoa's opposition party secretary has appealed Prime Minister Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Schmidt's acquittal on corruption charges following a twisted conspiracy case.

In March, the District Court in Apia cleared Laauli of criminal charges stemming from a probe into an unsolved, fatal hit and run in 2021, involving Tuuau Faasavalu, a university student.

Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi, the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) secretary and MP for Faleata 3 electoral constituency, was a complainant and prosecution witness during the trial, which gripped the nation.

The prime minister's political nemesis, former long-time prime minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Mallielegaoi, has previously told RNZ Pacific that during the trial the ruling Faatuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) party accused Lealailepule of being responsible for the accident.

"That was the allegation but they (the FAST party) do not have strong evidence, it was quite clear from a lot of evidence given that it was all planned (fabricated). We are still looking for the murderer," the opposition leader said.

Tuilaepa wrote in a letter to the editor of the Samoa Observer that "many questions regarding inconsistencies in the decision have been raised.

"Until these questions are resolved, Leala and La'auli's reputations remain tangled in a judicial stalemate," he wrote.

Lealailepule had invited Laauli on national television to take an oath of death before God, in the presence of public witnesses, swearing their innocence in the hit and run, Tuilalepa wrote.

"This follows the traditional path taken by chiefs in Samoa to stop the spread of lies by those who commit crimes and threaten the stability of our villages."

Lealailepule's lawyer, Fuimaono Sefo Ainuu, told RNZ Pacific on Thursday that he filed a motion "out of time" (late) to appeal the judge's decision in the Supreme Court last week.

However, he declined to explain the grounds for the appeal as the matter is being called before the court on 25 May.

"The expectation is that it will be called for the court to confirm whether the application has been served on the other parties and to schedule dates for responses (if any)," Fuimaono said.

The prime minister and five others appeared in court on 27 March for Senior District Court Judge Talasa Atoa-Saaga's ruling, which she had deferred four times.

Judge Atoa-Saaga found Laauli not guilty of perverting the course of justice, fabricating evidence, harassment and making false statements.

Also cleared were former MP and Associate Minister of Police, Fepuleai Faasavalu Sua and former police officer, Lio Faataumalama Auava.

However, she found Sam Sua guilty of eight counts of defamation and Sivai Kepi guilty of two counts of perverting the course of justice.

The prime minister, who launched the initial investigation into the hit and run, has previously told local media that five police officers from New Zealand will travel to Apia to reinvestigate the case.

Laauli was initially formally charged in January 2025, while serving as a cabinet minister under the then Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa.

His predicament triggered one of the most significant political crises Samoa has seen in recent years, and lead to a dramatic split within the ruling Faatuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) party.

Fiame sacked Laauli, the FAST party chairman, who was Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries.

Snap elections were called in August last year after months of political instability culminated in Fiame's minority government failing to pass its 2025 budget.

RNZ Pacific has reached out to Laauli for comment.