An appeal by a former police officer against her conviction for forgery was withdrawn during this year's Court of Appeal sitting on March 23.

Malia Kolokiloloma Fanua was sentenced last year to three-years and six-months imprisonment, which was fully suspended, for forging her exam result, while studying at the University of the South Pacific Tonga campus in 2017.

The Court heard since 2005, she had been undertaking a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in Pacific policies and other policing courses. She was receiving funding from the Australia and New Zealand aid program for those courses and including the first semester of 2017, when committing the offences.

Represented by Sifa Tu'utafaiva, Fanua appealed against her conviction essentially on one ground concerning the alleged wrongful admission of computer records by reference to sections 54C to Evidence Act.

The Appeal Court in a judgment on March 24, said Tu’utafaiva at the end of his oral submissions, indicated his wish to withdraw the appeal, which the Court found to be correct.

The appeal was accordingly dismissed.

Facts

On June 26, 2019, after a trial by judge alone, Fanua was found guilty of four counts of forgery and two counts of knowing dealing with forged documents.

She was sentenced to three-years on the forgery counts and six-months for using a forged document, which is served concurrently.

All sentences were suspended for two-years on conditions, including carrying out 60-hour community service. She had completed the community service.