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Laauli not guilty on over 100 charges
By Matai'a Lanuola Tusani T - Ah Tong
•
26 June 2020, 12:43PM
Former Cabinet Minister, Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao has been found not guilty of more than 100 forgery, theft and obtained by deception.
His wife Heather Schmidt, business associates Tuitui and Martin Schwalger also had criminal charges against them dismissed.
Businessman and associate Apulu Lance Polu was found guilty of one charge of using a forged document.
Justice Vui Clarence Nelson delivered the decision this afternoon in a crowded Courtroom.
The former Cabinet Minister and his co-defendants pleaded not guilty to 233 criminal charges at a trial held in mid-2019.
La’auli was charged with one count of forgery; 40 charges of theft; 16 for obtaining by deception; 16 counts of causing loss by deception and 88 charges of theft by a person in a special relationship.
His wife Heather was charged with one count of theft; three charges of causing loss by deception; and three charges of theft by relationship.
Apulu was charged with 51 criminal charges: one count of using a forged document; one charge of forgery; one charge of theft; 16 charges of obtaining by deception; 16 counts of causing loss by deception and an additional 16 counts of theft by relationship.
Tuitui was facing seven charges of causing loss by deception and six criminal counts of theft by a person in a special relationship, while Martin Schwalger was charged with one count of forgery.
The criminal charges stem from an ongoing dispute over Local Partners and Associates, a nonu company, between the accused and a senior Member of Parliament and Associate Minister of the Ministry of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Peseta Vaifou Tevaga.
By Matai'a Lanuola Tusani T - Ah Tong
•
26 June 2020, 12:43PM
