By Lagi Keresoma/
Apia, Samoa – 5 April 2025 – The FAST Party leader, Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Schmidt said there are distinct differences between the charges against him and those against Faleomavaega Titimaea Tafua who resigned last week as a Cabinet Minister after his involvement in a traffic accident where a government vehicle was badly damaged and passengers in a another vehicle hospitalized for serious injuries.
Laauli was responding to a question from the media that publicly commended Faleomavaega for his prompt decision to resign last week after being charged with negligent driving causing injury suggesting compliance to the rule of law.
The media articles and public’s comments suggest that as an example that Laauli should have followed after he was charged in January, instead of waiting for Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa to decide for him.
Laauli said he is aware of the comments and where they were leading to and that is to tarnish his political career and his chances in the upcoming general elections.
The government vehicle with a MCIL number plate that was involved in the traffic accident at Le Mafa where one of the passengers was hospitalized for serious injuries.
Cautioning the media that the matter against him is in court and that he had been warned not to discuss the case publicly, Laauli said there are marked differences in the charges and cases against him and those against Faleomavaega.
He first acknowledged that it was good that no one died from in the accident which police alleged speeding and landed a passenger in the other vehicle in hospital for serious injuries and a government vehicle badly damaged.
“The charges against Faleomavaega have physical evidence of what happened so the charges cannot be avoided,” Laauli told the media in last Friday’s FAST Party press conference.
“As for the charges against me, they’re allegations and we’re waiting for the Court to prove or disprove those charges,” said Laauli.
“As for me resigning after being charged; that would have sent a message that I accept the charges as I’m guilty of the charges, hence my belief not to resign and leave it to the discretion of the Prime Minister, as I was innocent until proven otherwise,” he said.
Twisting information an accepted norm
Former Minister of Communications and Information Technology, and FAST Deputy Chairman, Toelupe Poumulinuku Onesemo stated that the charges against Laauli are serious and of a different nature, but people now tend to believe the twisted information on the mainstream and social media.
“Even in Parliament, information are twisted,” said Toelupe.
He then cited the incident during the debate in last months vote of no confidence where the Faasaleleaga 4 Member of Parliament was speaking on the unresolved hit and run case only to be interrupted by the Faleata 3 MP who claimed everything will be revealed in the pending court case against Laauli in May.
Toelupe explained the court case to be heard in May against Laauli and others are on different charges.
“Not the hit and run case,” Toelupe stated.
“The case against Laauli will not resolve the hit and run matter,” said Toelupe.
He argued that this is the type of information twsiting the public has been exposed and now accepted as the norm.
He reminded that the first media news report about the hit and run incident in April 2021, quoted the then Commissioner of Police saying a suspect as a Member of Parliament.
“Then it ended there,” said Toelupe.
The hit and run incident occurred during the political uncertainty after the April 2021 general elections. It was at the time, when the party numbers were critical and the 10% for women representation was about to be activated.
Toelupe stated, “If it was a FAST MP that was involved (in the hit and run incident), Tuilaepa would still have been Prime Minister.”
Four years later, police still have no evidence to charge anyone in connection with the unresolved hit and run case that has politically polarized the country. Meanwhile, Laauli and five others will appear in court in May on conspiracy and other charges indirectly relating to the hit and run case.
Toelupe said the manner in which information have been twisted for public consumption in the unresolved hit and run case, is no different from the comparison made between the charges against Laauli and Faleomavaega.
He said the nature of the cases and those of the charges are vastly different.
