Si‘i Kae Ola Motor Parts, Tonga's biggest second-hand car sales company faced a civil action brought against them by a former customer who claimed he bought from them a poor quality car.

First defendant Si'i Kae Ola Motor Parts, second defendant Tevita Misa Fifita & Sons Ltd, and third defendant Tevita Misa Fifita of Nuku...’alofa, in the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court on June 13...–14 faced claims brought by the plaintiff, David Corbett of Kolomotu'a.

The plaintiff claimed that on July 29, 1999, he bought a Mitsubishi Diamante car from Si...’i Kae Ola Motor Parts for $6,300 pa...’anga . In August he made a complaint to the company that the car stereo was poor and very old, and the company promised they would replace it but never did.

In December 1999 the Mitsubishi broke down at Sopu, so Corbett towed it to Asco Motors and confirmed that the fan and timing belts were broken and needed replacements.

On February 3, 2000 he bought a new fan and timing belt at $321 from Sitani Mafi Co. Ltd but the car still failed to work or even start.

Asco then prepared a technical field report on the causes of the car's problems, which concluded that the motor of the car be replaced with a second hand one, as it would cost less than trying to repair the old motor.

Corbett met with Tevita Misa Fifita three days later and requested a replacement car. Mr. Fifita denied his request and said only cars, which had problems within 1 month of purchase, could be replaced and offered for the car to be repaired at his workshop.

Corbett claim he was not aware of the 1-month guarantee and gave his car for repair while it still had its new fan and timing belt as well as two brand new tyres he bought for $254.

From March 2000 to February 2002 Corbett said the car was yet to be repaired and he found out that the fan and timing belts together with the 2 tires had gone missing at the Si'i Kae Ola workshop.

Corbett seeks the court...’s judgment of $6,875 pa...’anga to be paid to him by the defendants for the total amount of the car and the new parts that went missing.

The trial, which was to be completed this week, is adjourned to August 16 because the defendants requested an out of court settlement.

Laki Niu was the legal counsel for the plaintiff and Siosifa Tu'utafaiva represented the defendants.