Four former Westpac bank employees have gone to jail for embezzlement and false accounting, after sentencing by Mr  Justice Cato  in the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court on April 23.

 The four offenders pleaded guilty to the charges laid against them.

Tavake Kaufusi (33) who embezzled $41,301.03 between 17 January 2008 and 30 June, 2011, received a sentence of two years and eight months imprisonment with the final year suspended. His offending was "very serious, systemic and dishonest " said the judge. "He completely duped the bank who promoted him to a chief cashier. He must have been a reasonably influential figure in the overall deception which took place over a number of years.” The judge allowed a mitigation because his family had repaid the substanital sum and had accepted responsibility for his actions.

Mo’ui Loketi (27) participated as a teller in about 30 transactions over a period between 2 July 2009 and 24 August, 2011 involving $12,303.79. She received a sentence of one year and nine months imprisonment with the final six months suspended.

Fifita Latu (24) who was involved in stealing $30,917.60 in 19 transactions received a sentence of two years and three months imprisonment, with the final six months suspended.

Sione Matafahi, who embezzled $30,419.12 in about 20 transactions between 7 April, 2010 and 3 August, 2011, received a sentence of two years and three months imprisonment, with the final four months suspended.

The judge said the prisoners were the last in a series of prosecutions relating to fraudulent activity (embezzlement and false accounting) brought against staff of the Westpac Bank who were working in the foreign exchange section of the bank.

Mr Sisifa appeared for the Crown. Counsel for Loketi was Mrs Taufateau, counsel for the other three defendants was Laki Niu.