Meini Hafoka (51) has pleaded guilty to obtaining money by false pretence for an alleged Tongan passport scam, after appearing at the Nuku'alofa Magistrate's Court this week.

He was arrested on Saturday, January 21 and charged regarding a complaint from a foreigner who said he had told him he could provide his family with naturalization certificates and Tongan passports.

The accused who also went by the name Uolingi Hafoka from Hofoa/Tokomololo had allegedly impersonated a member of a government ministry and depriving more than $3,000 pa’anga from the complainant.

The case was adjourned to next week for submissions on sentencing.