The case involving a woman accused of making false allegations against the Prime Minister has been outsourced and will not be dealt with by the police prosecution. 

Instead, the police have referred the matter involving Lise Marie Schmidt to the Attorney General’s Office (AGO), which has outsourced the case to be dealt with by lawyer Magele Leone Sua Mailo.  

Schmidt appeared before District Court Judge Talasa Saaga on Tuesday and was represented by lawyer Tanya Toailoa. 

During the proceeding, Judge Saaga granted the adjournment of the matter to 3 June and for the prosecution to finalise the charges against the defendant. Schmidt is yet to take a plea.

Schmidt was initially charged by police in March following two letters she penned that made shocking allegations accusing the Prime Minister of involvement in the death of Dr Caroline Sinavaiana Gabbard. 

She alleged having conversations with the Prime Minister and meetings where she claimed she was instructed to retrieve evidence connected to the death of Professor Gabbard. 

Following a police investigation into the claims, the charges were laid. Police Commissioner Auapaau Logoitino Filipo said the claims from Schmidt were unsubstantiated and could not be verified. 

Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa did not file a complaint against Schmidt. However, she noted police had concluded the investigation and the allegations were untrue, and she would not waste her time on pursuing it.