Copies of two cheques obtained by the Samoa Observer show that Anoama’a No.2 Member of Parliament, Lauofo Fonotoe Pierre Lauofo, was not a signatory on documents Prime Minister La'aulialemalietoa Leuatea Schmidt alleged in Parliament were used to purchase illicit drugs.

One of the signatories, district council committee member Luafalealo Vitale Ah Tong, said he signed the cheques believing they were for routine district council allowances and projects.

“I just signed the cheques, and I thought they were for the allowances and the projects for the district council of Anoama'a No.2,” Luafalealo told the Samoa Observer.

The two cheques valued at $4,200 and $8,200 were cited during a heated parliamentary exchange on Thursday when La'aulialemalietoa told Parliament that Lauofo had signed cheques from district funds to buy drugs.

However, copies of the cheques obtained by the Samoa Observer show they were signed by Luafalealo and former district council secretary Lei'u Ioane Sio. Neither document bears Lauofo’s signature.

When contacted for comment, a member of Lei'u’s family said he was at the farm.

Notes accompanying the documents state that closed-circuit television footage from the National Bank of Samoa showed the cheque was withdrawn by the district council’s executive officer, Alofa Ah Hao.

Lauofo said the cheques were issued without his knowledge and said he challenged the prime minister in Parliament to produce proof.

“I told him in Parliament to provide proof because it was not me who signed the cheques,” Lauofo said.

According to Lauofo, the executive officer later admitted the $8,200 cheque was used for personal purposes, while the $4,200 was used to pay allowances for committee members. He said the officer was later dismissed and the matter was reported to the chief executive officer of the Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development.

The allegations raised in Parliament follow similar claims made last year linking Lauofo to drug activity. In 2025, Lauofo said he was considering legal action against a New Zealand-based online programme that accused him of involvement in the sale of methamphetamine, describing the accusations as defamatory and politically motivated.

The cheques obtained by the Samoa Observer show that the documents referenced in the latest allegations were not signed by Lauofo.