A stolen car that was shipped to Tonga is poised to be returned to Australia following the importer’s two-year prison sentence in the kingdom.
Siosio Malohi Vea, 40, pleaded not guilty to two counts of money laundering and receiving stolen property.
However, the Supreme Court in Nuku’alofa found him guilty and handed down his sentence in December.
His ex-wife in New South Wales reportedly stole the car and then shipped it to Tonga.
The prosecution argued that Vea had concealed the actual ownership of the MG motor car and knew it had been stolen or obtained under such circumstances.
“First, he in the knowledge or suspicion that the car in question was criminal property that is to say it was derived directly or indirectly from the commission of a serious offence, he converted the car to his own use concealing its true origin”, the court judgement said.
The illegal action constitutes a money laundering offence, the court document shows.
The vehicle was rented to the convict’s former wife Kasanita Vea in the state of New South Wales Australia.
“In this case the thief is alleged to be the Defendant’s former wife, Kasanita”, the Lord Chief Justice Malcolm Bishop said, noting that the correspondences submitted to the court show “not only that the vehicle was originally rented by Kasanita ….. she had no intention of complying with the agreement or restoring the vehicle to its lawful owner, Ride Solutions”.
The Lord Chief Justice Malcolm Bishop KC also said he was satisfied with the evidence that Kasanita appropriated the car, and this was to the defendant’s knowledge.
The vehicle’s removal from that state is prohibited unless prior authorization had been obtained.
Sentencing, Mr Bishop imposed a sentence of two years imprisonment with the last 12 months suspended for 12 months on the following conditions;
a. He must not commit any offence punishable by imprisonment.
b. He must report to the probation office within 48 hours of your release from custody.
c. He must be placed under probation during the duration of your suspension.
d. He must complete a course on life skills at the direction of the Probation Office within 12 months.
“I further order that the vehicle is returned to the complainant company, Ride Solutions Ltd”, Mr Bishop said.
