Man jailed for Tongan passport forgery [1]
Tuesday, August 1, 2017 - 16:36
Tu'italakitai Afuha'amango from Kolofo'ou was sentenced to five-years for charges including forgery in relation to an application for a Tongan passport.
He pleaded guilty to false declaration, forgery, knowingly dealing with forged documents and bribery.
Hon Mr Justice Cato in sentencing the prisoner on these counts which is being served concurrently, suspended the final 12-months of the sentence on strict conditions, at the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court on Friday, July 28.
Deputy Police Commissioner ‘Unga Fa'aoa said this case involved the prisoner colluding with four other persons, including civil servants to make forged documentations to support an application to obtain a Tongan passport for a foreign national.
All have been convicted and serving imprisonment terms.
He said since the Passport Taskforce started on August 25, 2015, 32 arrests have been made, with 13 persons pleading guilty and 19 awaiting trial.
“This sentence sends a very clear message about the seriousness of the offending and a deterrent to people tempted to commit such crime in the future.”
The Passport Taskforce continues investigation into alleged fraudulent issuing of Tongan Passports.