Judge points to serious breach of trust in Lavulavu couple’s criminal offending

Imposing six year prison sentences on convicted fraudsters 'Etuate and 'Akosita Lavulavu today Hon. Mr Justice J. Cooper said he had taken into account all mitigating factors and had kept his overall sentence as low as he as he could. In his 61 points sentencing remarks, released this afternoon, the judge said he took no account of the corrupting of the trial process by both defendants and their submission of false references. “I ignore the fact that Mr Lavulavu has sought to try and influence the outcome with the lure of money.” He also noted that they were not charged with theft, when they could have been.