Man arrested in alleged passport scam [1]
Monday, January 23, 2017 - 23:15
A 51-year-old man was arrested and charged with obtaining money by false pretences for an alleged Tongan passport scam.
A Tonga Police Passport Taskforce arrested the man from Hofoa/Tokomololo in relation to a complaint from a foreigner who reported that the accused had said he could get him and his family naturalization certificates and Tongan passports.
The man had allegedly impersonated a member of a government ministry that resulted in depriving a large amount of money from the victim, said a police spokesperson today.
The accused was arrested on Saturday, January 21 and charged with obtaining money by false pretence contrary to section 164, Criminal Offences Act. He was remanded in custody and was expected appear at the Nuku’alofa Magistrate Court on Monday, 23 January for bail.