A Tongan female caretaker was sentenced to two years in prison in the United States this week after stealing from a 95-year-old woman she was taking care of more than US$35,000 last year.
Ofa Atau Fifita, 33, has been given the maximum sentence of felony elder fiscal abuse for stealing cheques from the woman in her care between Feb. 6, 2015, and July 14 while she was an employee of a home care assistance company, prosecutors said. She has only eight days credit for time served.
According to Kron4 news the elderly woman’s husband contacted the sheriff’s office after they found out cheques were missing from her cheque book.
The court was told “Fifita had forged and cashed more than 30 of her checks”. .
“Fifita admitted the thefts and said she took the money because she had financial problems. Prosecutors said she stole a total of $35,300, the amount she still owes to the victim in restitution”.
