Bank tellers up for sentencing April 23 [1]
Wednesday, April 16, 2014 - 19:07
Four former bank tellers who embezzled over $70,000 from the Westpac Bank of Tonga, were further remanded in custody for sentencing on Wednesday, April 23 after the judge heard submission from their counsel.
Two women, Mo’ui Loketi and Fifita ‘Uluheua Latu, and two men, Sione Matafahi and Tavake Kaufusi, appeared before Mr Justice Charles Cato at the Supreme Court in Nuku’alofa this morning Wednesday, April 16.
Counsel Laki Niu and Palu Taufateau made submissions before the judge adjourned to next Wednesday to deliver his sentence.
On March 18, Justice Cato convicted Loketi, Latu and Matafahi of embezzling over $70,000 pa’anga on separate occasions. They stood trial from February 24 to March 11 this year after pleading not guilty to two charges each of embezzlement (or alternatively theft) and falsification of accounts.
While, the other accused Kaufusi had pleaded guilty after the prosecution's case ended to an amended count of embezzlement and false accounting, alleging a slightly lower amount than he first faced.