A Parliamentary Committee has recommended to suspend the Member of Parliament for Gagaifomauga No. 3, La’aulialemalietoa Leuatea Schmidt, from Parliament for three months.

The recommendation was announced by the Chairperson of the Parliamentary Privileges and Ethics Committee, Nafoitoa Talaimanu Keti, who filed the report in an investigation into costs of a 200KVA generators for the Ministry of Prisons. La'auli was found guilty of contempt of Parliament standing orders. 

La’auli had claimed he had bought a 200KVA generator for $100,000. He questioned the $300,000 price tag proposed by the Ministry of Prisons.  

In the conclusion of the Privilege and Ethics Committee investigation, Nafoitoa said the M.P. had breached Standing Orders by deliberately misleading Parliament. 

Nafoitoa said the Committee also found that supporting documents presented by La’auli are not correct.  

The recommendation to suspend La'auli is for three months without pay or any allowance. 

The report from the Privilege and Ethics Committee was looking into claims made by La’auli in January that queried the price tag of $300,000 into a generator proposed for the Ministry of Prisons. 

La’auli told parliament at the time that he had bought a 200KVA generator for $100,000 tala  for his constituency . 

He queried the Finance and Expenditure Committee if they had looked into the costs for the generator, saying the country needs to save money.

Prime Minister Tuliaepa Dr. Sailele Malielegaoi then asked to have the matter referred to the Finance Expenditure Committee to investigate the costs that questions the credibility of the Government.  

The report from the Finance Committee was later referred to the Privilege and Ethics Committee for further review as per request from La’auli that there was a conflict of interest for Finance Committee to investigate their own claim. 

The report is being debated in Parliament.