NZ deports fugitive to face theft charges in Tonga [1]
Tuesday, January 21, 2014 - 12:49
A 26-year-old woman and a former Westpac Bank of Tonga employee, who was deported from New Zealand on Saturday, January 18, has been charged with three counts including theft of more than $8,000 pa’anga last year.
Chief Inspector Tevita Fifita the officer in charge at the Nuku’alofa Police Station said today the accused from Fasi remained in police custody.
She is charged at this stage with forgery, embezzlement and theft of more than $8,000 while working at the bank in Nuku'alofa. She fled Tonga and went to New Zealand in July last year and in the same week that the bank filed a complaint against her to the police, he said.
Tonga Police requested the assistance of the New Zealand Police and Immigration to locate her and the accused was deported to Tonga on Saturday, he said.
“These are the only initial charges we have laid against her and submitted to the courts to detain her in custody so that we can complete our investigation. We expect to lay more charges against and the amount allegedly stolen to increase by next week,” said the Chief Inspector.
The accused appeared before Magistrate Pita Soakimi yesterday July 20 and was ordered to be further detained in custody.
She is expected to appear on Monday, January 27 at the Nuku'alofa Magistrate’s Court.