By Linny Folau

The convicted Minister of Infrastructure and Tourism ‘Akosita Lavulavu (36) and her husband ’Etuate (62) were this morning sentenced to six-years imprisonment each, at the Nuku’alofa Supreme Court.

The judge noted that both had shown no remorse and made no attempts to repay over $500,000 pa'anga of TVET education funds they had plundered.

'Akosita is a Minister in Prime Minister Hon Dr Pohiva Tu'i'onetoa's government.

Hon. Mr Justice Cooper sentenced them, after initially finding them guilty on three joint counts of obtaining the money by false pretences, relating to a number of irregularities in an audit at the ‘Unuaki ‘o Tonga Royal Institute, which they owned and operated.

After hearing sentencing submissions from defense counsels, the judge sentenced both to six-years imprisonment each.

For 'Akosita, he suspended the final year of her six-years sentence for two-years on conditions. This means she will be serving five-years.

For her husband 'Etuate, the judge declined to suspend any of his sentence, meaning he is going into jail for six-years.

The Supreme Court judge noted of the serious breach of trust committed by these two, in what he phrased as as a 'highly devised plan', which they committed over a long period of about three-years.

"The public money was to benefit the children."

They were in this together, said the judge.

In a pre-sentence report for 'Akosita, it was noted that she has two young children with no previous conditions.

The judge said, she pleads for the mercy of the court but she showed no remorse.

According to the author of the report, when interviewing those who provided letters on her behalf, the letters was created by the accused and given for them to sign. They did not know of its full contents.

Her act of dishonesty further proves her true character, said the judge.

As for 'Etuate's pre-sentence report, he still denied the guilty verdict. He also blamed Court for being biased, he said.

Concern raised by most of those being interviewed in the report according to the author, was their loss of trust in his credibility. The letters was also said to have been created by the accused, co-accused etc.

The author of the report also stated, this was not out of character for 'Etuate, who is he was known to be "deceitful", said the judge.

More of Hon Mr Justice Cooper's sentencing remarks will be issued later. 

Meanwhile, both were taken by Police who was outside court into custody. 

The couple plundered TVET grant funds for themselves in a systemic fraud and an example of the worst sort of dishonesty, said the judge in his 126 page ruling on June 4.

'Akosita is a Member of Parliament, as a Vava'u People's Representative. While, 'Etuate is a former Cabinet Minister and MP.

The Director of Public Prosecutions James Lutui assisted by Tevita 'Aho acted for the Crown. While William Clive Edwards Sr represented 'Etuate and his son William Jr acted for 'Akosita.