A couple from Ha‘akame who pleaded guilty to charges of obtaining a $3,000 pa‘anga loan from the Westpac Bank of Tonga by false pretences are awaiting sentencing by the Nuku‘alofa Supreme Court.

Motekiai and Kalolaine Toutai initially pleaded not guilty to over ten charges of forgery and abetment at the start of their jury trial last week.

Yesterday, the trial took an unusual turn when both accused were given the opportunity that if they pleaded guilty to the charge of obtaining money through false pretences and abetment, the remaining charges would be dropped because there was insufficient evidence to support some elements of the forgery charges.

The couple took the offer and Motekiai pleaded guilty to the charge of obtaining $3,000 pa...’anga through false pretence and his wife pleaded guilty to the abetment to the crime.

The court was told that in January 2005 that Motekiai applied for and was granted a $3,000 loan from the Westpac Bank of Tonga, by submitting false documents claiming he was a librarian at the LDS Middle School, but he was not.

He then applied for a second loan through the same way, but he was detected and charged.

Chief Justice Anthony Ford told the court this was an unusual way to finish the case but it does happen, and at the end of the day it is fair for all of them.

He then adjourned the sentencing to February 28.

The prosecution was Senior Counsel Sione Sisifa while the defence was Sifa Tu'utafaiva.