Let the law take its course. This is a simple yet effective message from Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa to the nation and people who rallied outside the police station on Friday morning to support Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries Laauli Leuatea Schmidt.

Hundreds took to online platforms to support Laauli as the police charged him on 10 different counts including fabricating evidence, conspiracy to commit an offence, defamation, and harassment via electronic means.

The Samoa Police have to be commended for being steadfast in upholding the rule of the law. They did their investigation and after fulfilling the requirements and after discussions with the Office of the Attorney General, they charged the minister.

It is believed that the charges were supposed to have been laid before Christmas but an intervention from the top office of the land delayed it until after the holidays were over.

On Thursday evening Laauli took to a social media-based ‘broadcaster’ to call out on his supporters. He called for peace and said he would be at the police station at 10 am on Friday.

His supporters came in numbers, not too many that the police could not control but the police took precautions and sealed off the station.

Laauli’s comments from Thursday night were followed by a Facebook post from Minister of Public Enterprises Leatinu'u Wayne So'oialo in support of Laauli on Friday morning. So'oialo also pointed out that while Laauli had been charged, allegations involving other government officials including the former prime minister remained unaddressed.

It was around the same time Fiame issued her public statement. She called out for peace and for the rule of law to be respected. She remembers how the rule was effective in bringing the Faatuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (F.A.S.T.) party into power in 2021.

This situation has hints of a rift in the party. The leader has called for the rule of law to prevail yet the ministers have gone rogue with their commentary.

The minister’s supporters targeted the journalists at the police station. The online trolls who support the minister made them a target online and the abuse continues.

Intimidation has never deterred the Samoa Observer from doing its work. We are the public’s eyes and ears. We bridge the gap between the government and the rest of the world so people have a better understanding of what is going around and are not hoodwinked by those who stay in power.

 We are the watchdogs who call out corruption, social ills, and abuse of power and money and highlight the good and the bad, so people are not cheated of their rights and freedoms.

We do this for the people so they are better informed and choose the right people to lead. People who will work for the people and not for themselves. We do this for transparency, accountability and good governance.

Laauli is only charged and he will have his day in court. He is innocent until the evidence presented in court says otherwise. The minister knows this very well. If he is innocent as he claims, he does not need to show this to the world on social media. The burden of proof lies on the prosecution to prove Laauli’s guilt, the court does not ask for innocence to be proven.

Let the law take its course.