Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, La’auli Leuatea Schmidt, has firmly stated he will not resign despite facing ten criminal charges laid by the police, including fabricating evidence, conspiracy, and defamation. The embattled minister addressed speculation about his political future in a social media post on Thursday, confirming he has no intention of stepping down and will await Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa’s decision.

The charges, which were confirmed by Police Commissioner Auapaau Logoitino Filipo, stem from investigations linked to a hit-and-run incident in 2021 and alleged misconduct involving police officials. La’auli, who is also the chairman and deputy leader of the ruling Fa’atuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (F.A.S.T.) party, has maintained his confidence in his legal team, emphasizing that this situation is different from a prior term when he resigned to protect cabinet integrity while facing over 300 charges.

“I resigned last time because of the nature of the charges and to uphold the integrity of the government,” he said. “This time, I am confident in my legal team and will not make any decisions until the Cabinet decides.”

Prime Minister Fiame met with La’auli earlier in the week, reportedly asking him to consider stepping down and giving him an ultimatum to resign by Tuesday afternoon. While the FAST caucus has rallied around the minister, suggesting he retain his portfolio pending the outcome of his case, Fiame holds the final decision.

The controversy has also exposed tensions within the ruling party. A marathon caucus meeting revealed frustrations over perceived police bias in investigations targeting party members. Some MPs called for a vote of no confidence against Fiame but later resolved to focus on uniting ahead of the general election.

Public opinion remains divided, with critics urging La’auli to step aside to preserve government credibility, while supporters demand fairness and due process.

La’auli is scheduled to appear in court on February 4, with the case likely to test the stability of Samoa’s ruling party and its approach to accountability in public office.