Samoa police have charged Lise Schmidt for allegedly making false claims that Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa was involved in the death of Dr Caroline Sinavaiana Gabbard.
She has been charged with conspiring to defeat the course of justice and providing false information to mislead the Police.
Police Commissioner Auapaau Logoitino Filipo told the Samoa Observer the charges relate to two letters she wrote to the police, Attorney General Su’a Hellene Wallwork and Minister of Police Faualo Harry Schuster.
In those letters, Schmidt alleged she had conversations with Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa and met with her where she claimed she was instructed to retrieve evidence connected to the death of Professor Gabbard.
According to Auapaau, following the receipt of the letters the police carried out their investigation to verify the allegations and also made trips to Vavau to interview residents there regarding the claims.
“Police has exhausted a lot of resources and time to investigate the allegations and none of it could be verified or confirmed,” he said.
Police said Schmidt has been released on bail on the condition that she surrender her travel documents, sign at the Faleata outpost every Friday and refrain from discussing the case on social media.
Her initial court appearance is on April 15.
Photo: Samoa Observer
