A former accounts officer of the Tonga Post Ltd. who has pleaded guilty to five counts of embezzling $22,000 pa'anga, has been warned he can expect a prison sentence. 

Tevita Kite (24) of Kolofo'ou appeared before Justice Robert Shuster at the Supreme Court on February 10.

The Solicitor General 'Aminiasi Kefu, for the Crown, told the court that the accused was responsible for depositing company cash to the bank on a daily basis. But on five different occasions from June to October 2011 he stole small amounts that totaled at $22,000.

His supervisor found out the discrepancies in their public account in October 2011. No money was recovered.

Justice Robert Shuster adjourned the sentencing to March 9 and ordered a pre-sentence report on the accused. But he told him that when he comes back for sentencing, he should expect a prison sentence because he committed a serious offence, which was a clear breach of trust.

This is the first time an employee he Tonga Post Ltd. has been charged with embezzlement.