In a decisive move, Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa has officially removed La'auli Leuatea Schmidt from his post as Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries after the police charged him with 10 criminal offences.

This long-awaited decision comes after a week of intense speculation and several rounds of meetings between the Prime Minister and the embattled Cabinet Minister.

The charges against La'auli, formally laid last Friday, sent shockwaves through the government and the nation.

Despite mounting pressure, the Minister remained resolute publicly announcing on multiple occasions that he would not step down.

"I did not step down, and I will not step down," La'auli declared in a statement on Thursday evening which he issued in response to swirling rumours that he had resigned from his ministerial role. The statement sought to clarify any confusion, confirming that he had communicated his position directly to Prime Minister Fiame.

La'auli further acknowledged that he was prepared to accept any decision the Prime Minister would make regarding his future in Cabinet. However, he firmly reiterated his intention to remain in office despite the gravity of the charges against him.

On Monday this week, Fiame had given La'auli an ultimatum, urging him to consider stepping down voluntarily until the court proceedings were concluded. Despite this, La'auli stood his ground, insisting that he would not resign.

He publicly acknowledged that it was the decision he had put forward to the Prime Minister. The two met again on Wednesday following a fired-up caucus meeting held in Mulinu'u on Tuesday evening. It is believed that the majority of the members who were able to attend showed support for La'auli.

This newspaper has learned that La'auli's case was not included in the agenda for this week's Cabinet meeting, and the decision to remove him from his ministerial role was solely at Fiame's discretion.

Sources from inside the Cabinet informed this newspaper that, before the charges were filed, La'auli had requested guidance and support from the Prime Minister regarding his situation.

Initially, La'auli was expected to face charges before Christmas, but Fiame's intervention delayed the proceedings. Fiame met with Police Commissioner Auapaau Logotino Filipo to postpone the charges until 3 January.

Fiame's public stance has been clear: she asked La'auli to face the legal process and allow the law to determine the outcome. With the charges now in place, the Prime Minister decided to remove La'auli from his ministerial duties.

This high-profile case continues to develop, with more details expected to emerge.

The political implications of La'auli's removal from the Cabinet are still unfolding, as the nation watches closely how this decision will affect the government's stability.

More details to follow.