A woman who threatened to close shops in Vava’u pretending to be a customs officer has been given an 18-month suspended sentence.
Mele Soloi Malo Havea, 35, pleaded guilty at Nuku’alofa Supreme Court for impersonating a custom officer contrary to section 98 of the Customs and Excise Management Act.
Havea from Fungamisi, Vava‘u , arrived in Neiafu and lived at her uncle’s house at Leimatu‘a. She introduced herself as being transferred from Tongatapu to work at Vava‘u Customs.
Sometimes between July and August Havea was wearing a customs uniform and present in a faikava at Leimātu’a as tou’a, the woman who serves kava.
At one stage, Havea was at the Fia Chinese shop warning the shopkeepers of several things to do to comply with the law if not she would close the shop. Two Police officers stopped by at the shop and overheard what Havea was telling the shop keepers to do.
Havea also entered the J R Trading store and took a damaged can of tuna. She told the Chinese shopkeeper she was an inspector from Tonga.
On the same day, a Chinese businessman launched a complaint with Police that Havea did not pay his rental car in full.
Police later arrested her and brought Talita Fisi‘ihoi, a customs officer from the Customs office in Vava’u to confirm whether Havea was indeed an officer from Tongatapu Customs. Fisi’ihoi denied it and said Havea “has never worked as a customs officer”.
Justice Langi convicted and sentenced Havea to 18 months imprisonment on each count concurrent to the head sentence.
The sentence is fully suspended on the following conditions:
- not to commit any crimes punishable by imprisonment.
- 40 hours of community work as directed by the Probation Officer. The accused is to report to the probation office within 48 hours of this sentence.
- Live where directed by the probation officer.
- Undergo a course on management and life skills.
