Trial Linked to Vaitele Hit-and-Run: Court Awaits Decision

Fale O Matai Editorial Team
Aug 13
5 min read

Updated: 2 days ago

By: Fale O Matai Newsroom Samoa, August 2025

The case connected to the 2021 Vaitele hit-and-run, in which university student Tuuau Faasavalu died, has completed hearings in the District Court of Samoa. A decision has not yet been announced.

The Fatal Night and Allegations

In the early hours of 21 April 2021, Tuuau was found on Maali Street, Vaitele after a suspected hit-and-run. Police appeals in 2021 referenced a possible white van captured on security footage.

In September 2023, former police officer Samuelu “Sam” Su’a appeared on the Tautai A’e program and alleged that Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi was involved. Lealailepule has consistently denied the claims and later gave evidence in court as a complainant.

Charges and Court

This is not a homicide trial. It is a conspiracy and defamation matter that arose from public allegations about the 2021 incident. Six defendants faced the District Court on charges that include:

Conspiracy to defeat the course of justice
Fabricating evidence
Defamation (criminal libel)
Insulting words
Harassment using electronic devices

The defendants named across multiple court reports are La’auli Leuatea Polataivao Schmidt, Fepuleai Faimata Su’a, Samuelu Su’a, Sivai Kepi, Lise-Marie Schmidt, and Li’o Fa’ataumalama Auava.

Bail history: the District Court denied bail for Samuelu Su’a and Sivai Kepi in February 2024. The Supreme Court granted bail to Sivai in May 2024, and later denied Sam’s bail appeal in August 2024.

Why La’auli Is Among the Defendants

Police and court reporting state that the charges for La’auli relate to alleged conduct after the 2021 incident. Counts include conspiracy or attempt to defeat the course of justice, fabricating evidence, criminal libel, insulting words, and harassment using electronic communication. Investigators allege coordinated actions and statements around the public claims linked to the Vaitele hit-and-run. La’auli has pleaded not guilty and maintains his innocence. Police leadership has clarified that these are not charges about who drove the vehicle in 2021.

Witnesses and Testimony

The trial opened in late May 2025, with up to 76 witnesses listed over five weeks. Not all listed witnesses were ultimately called.

Evidence and cross-examination raised questions about record-keeping and disputed documents. Superintendent Tupa’i Sapani Leleimalefaga was examined on interview procedures and files. Key witness Marie Tusi told the court some wording in her earlier statement came from police and described pressure that affected her accounts. Mid-June coverage noted a defence application that there was no case to answer. The court continued, and proceedings concluded without the defence calling evidence.

On 23 to 24 June 2025, Lealailepule gave evidence as a complainant and again rejected the allegations.

Allegations of Corruption of Justice: What the Court Has Heard

This case addresses alleged interference with the justice process rather than the identity of the driver in 2021. The charges include conspiracy or attempt to defeat the course of justice, fabricating evidence, criminal libel, insulting words, and electronic harassment.

Public claims about alleged hush money have been canvassed in open court and reporting. A police witness denied selling cattle that Sam Su’a said he bought with money he claimed to have received to stay quiet. Lealailepule told the court the allegations were fabricated. Testimony has also referred to missing files and chain-of-custody questions. A police witness said investigation files that were later described as missing had been given to a former police commissioner. Another report recorded that a mobile phone said to contain images was handed to an officer later accused of losing files. Defence challenged a document that appeared late in the case, prompting judicial intervention to cool exchanges. The judge will determine what weight, if any, to give these points.

Why This Case Matters

The case tests how Samoa’s justice system handles politically sensitive allegations and contested police procedures while the underlying Vaitele hit-and-run remains unresolved. As at 22 August 2025, no public verdict date has been announced.

Timeline

21 April 2021: Fatal hit-and-run in Vaitele
14 September 2023: Allegations aired on Tautai A’e
27 February 2024: Bail denied in District Court
25 May 2024: Supreme Court grants bail to Sivai; Sam remains in custody
17 August 2024: Supreme Court denies Sam’s bail appeal
Late May 2025: Trial opens in District Court
June 2025: No-case-to-answer bid raised; complainant evidence heard; defence does not call evidence
August 2025: Verdict pending

Key Figures

Samuelu “Sam” Su’a – defendant whose public claims triggered the case
La’auli Leuatea Polataivao Schmidt – FAST party chairman; former Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries
Fepuleai Faimata Su’a – defendant, former associate minister
Sivai Kepi – defendant
Li’o Fa’ataumalama Auava – defendant, former police inspector
Lise-Marie Schmidt – defendant
Tupa’i Sapani Leleimalefaga – superintendent, lead investigator
Marie Tusi – key witness whose statements were contested
Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi – complainant who denies involvement in the hit-and-run

Charge Explainer

Conspiracy or attempt to defeat the course of justice: Allegation that people worked together, or tried, to obstruct a police investigation or court process.

Fabricating evidence: Creating or altering material with intent to mislead a court.

Criminal libel: Publishing information about someone that is false with intent to harm their reputation.

Harassment using electronic communication: Using electronic systems to intentionally coerce, intimidate or seriously harass another person.

Insulting words: A lower-level offence charged where words are used with intent to provoke a breach of the peace or to insult

The defendants have pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Legal Q&A

Why is this in the District Court, not a homicide trial?Because it addresses what was said and done after the 2021 incident, for example alleged conspiracy, fabricating evidence, defamation and related counts. It is separate from the unresolved hit-and-run.

What does a no case to answer bid mean?After the prosecution closes, the defence can argue the evidence is legally insufficient. The court proceeded with the case after the mid-June bid.

Is there a verdict date? Not publicly announced as at 22 August 2025.

Sources

Samoa Global News – Police seek information on a white van suspected in the Vaitele hit-and-run, 21 June 2021.
Samoa Observer – Still no leads in Vaitele hit-and-run case, 24 June 2023.
Samoa News Hub – Lealailepule’s case and Tautai A’e interview context, 9 Feb 2024; Tautai A’e episode on YouTube, 14 Sep 2023.
Talamua – Court denies bail for Samuelu Su’a and wife, 27 Feb 2024.
Samoa Observer – Supreme Court bails Sam’s wife, 25 May 2024.
Talamua – Supreme Court denies Samuelu Su’a’s bail appeal; decision PDF, 17–19 Aug 2024.
Samoa Global News – 76 witnesses to testify over five weeks in District Court trial, 27 May 2025.
Samoa Observer – Court hears Sam’s written statement, 9 June 2025; No case to answer application declined, 17 June 2025.
Talamua – Witness says police put words in the statement she signed, 13 June 2025; Key witness under pressure and removed from police protection, 11–13 June 2025.
Talamua – Defence counsel accuses police investigator of overcharging defendants, 4 June 2025.
Talamua – Police admit mobile phone with images was handed to officer later accused of losing files, 31 May 2025.
Talamua – Missing investigation files were given to former Commissioner Fuiavailiili Su’a Egon Keil, 21 June 2025.
Talamua – Police mysterious document sparked heated exchange in court, 23 June 2025.
Talamua – High-profile case ends with defence not giving evidence, 25 June 2025.
RNZ Pacific – PM terminates minister at centre of police charges; background on FAST roles, January 2025.

Editor’s note: Some local reports write the victim’s name with a glottal stop as Tuu’au, or include Maletino. This article uses Tuuau Faasavalu for consistency across coverage.