The Samoa District Court has found Prime Minister Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Schmidt not guilty of all charges leveled at him and five other defendants.
After deferring her decision four times Judge Talasa Atoa-Sa’aga on Friday delivered a not guilty verdict.
Laaulialemalietoa was charged along with former MP Fepuleai Faimata Sua, Faataumalama Lio, Lise-Marie Schmidt, Sam Sua, and Sivai Kepi.
The PM, Fepuleai and Lio were cleared of all charges which included conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, fabricating evidence, and defamation.
However, Judge Atoa-Saaga found Sam Sua guilty of eight counts of defamation and his wife Sivai Kepi guilty of two counts of perverting justice. Lise Marie Schmidt was convicted of one charge of perverting the course of justice.
These charges stem from an investigation into the 2021 hit-and-run death of a student in Vaitele, involving accusations against Human Rights Protection Party secretary Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi.
Photo: Talamua Media
