Afuafu 'Uhatafe (52) was jailed for three-years for obtaining $32,825 pa’anga by false pretence from 104 people, she had falsely recruited in a work scam to Australia.

Hon. Mr Justice Cato imposed the imprisonment sentence without suspension on July 24 at the Supreme Court. Her sentence was backdated to when she was detained in custody.

She pleaded guilty to the offence committed from July to August 2019 at Fasi.

The Court heard she got the money from the complainant Manatu Ta'ufo’ou by telling him that she could arrange for persons to work as concrete workers, upon payment of fees to process travel documents.

In a span of two-months, the accused in person or by contacting the complainant using the false names 'Viii Launga' or 'Namoe', deceived the complainant into recruiting a total of 104 (including the complainant) people into the concrete working group. 

At all the times, the accused was handed passports or birth certificates with money totaling $32,825. 

The complainant was a Prison Guard at Hu'atolitoli Prison who was acquainted with the accused.

The Crown said, In July that year the complainant and the accused were talking at the accused's home at Fasi, and the complainant told the accused that he was going on leave to Australia and whether she knew anyone there who had any concrete work.


The accused told the complainant that she had an uncle who had a concrete business in Australia. 


She then told the complainant to give her $300 and his passport so that she could process paper work and submit his visa application for him to travel to Australia. The complainant subsequently gave her the money and his passport. She spent the money on herself.

Work scam

On another incident, the accused called the complainant and put on a male voice saying her name was Vili Launga, the uncle with the concrete business in Australia.

She asked the complainant's assistance in finding 10 people to join the concrete working group to travel and work in Australia.

In addition, she told the complainant that every person he recruited into the concrete working group would be required to hand over $300 in order to process their visa applications and their passports. And if any of the recruits did not have a passport, to also provide a further $85 and their birth certificate so a passport could be organised. 

The complainant was directed to give the passports and the money to the accused. He agreed to this request and found 10 people to join the working group and as requested gave the money and the passports or birth certificates to the accused. 


Then again under under the same false name called the complainant and asked his assistance in finding 40 more people to join the concrete working group to Australia. 
The complainant again acceded to this request, and found the 40 people to join the working group, and gave her the money, passports or birth certificates.

The accused then called the complainant and pretended to be someone called Namoe, who was working for Immigration Australia as the assigned officer who was going to process the visa applications for the concrete working group.

In late August 2019 Tonga Police received several complaints against the complainant as he was the one who took the passports and their money. The complainant told the police about the accused and what had happened.

Meanwhile, the accused in her record of interview admitted to deceiving the complainant into recruiting people into the bogus concrete working group, and using the money to pay off debts and personal expenses.

She had three previous convictions for dishonesy related offences.