The Disputes Tribunal in Timaru has ruled in favour of Maulotu Manuofetoa and his daughter, ordering Ofa Siasau of Auckland to repay them $22,500.
It follows our recent report that an Auckland tribunal recently ordered Siasau to repay Pita Hingano $26,250 by May 21, 2025, after determining that she operated an illegal pyramid scheme called Tongitupe New Zealand PTOA, resulting in the loss of the victims’ money.
The latest decision, issued on 18 April 2024 by Referee L Thompson, comes after Siasau failed to honour a 2021 agreement to return the money within two weeks.
Despite multiple notices, Siasau did not attend the hearing, prompting the Tribunal to proceed in her absence.
According to the Tribunal’s findings, the Manuofetoas transferred $9,000 to Siasau on 5 July 2021, followed by an additional $13,500 on 9 July 2021, with the understanding that the funds would be returned shortly.
However, the money was never repaid, and Siasau allegedly ceased communication.
The Tribunal confirmed that she had been properly notified of the hearing through her last known postal and email addresses, including one she had used to communicate with the Tribunal earlier this year.
Referee Thompson found the complainants’ testimony credible and ruled that Siasau had breached the agreement.
The order requires her to repay the full $22,500 by 18 May 2024.
If she fails to comply, the Manuofetoas can seek enforcement through the District Court’s Collections Unit.
The tribunal document, seen by Kaniva News, shows that Siasau has 20 working days to apply for a rehearing, though the Tribunal noted that such applications are not granted simply because a party disagrees with the outcome.
This follows Kaniva News‘ 2021 exposé on various illegal schemes, which ignited heated debates and controversy in the Tongan community, as victims struggled to uncover the lies behind it.
The Tongitupe pyramid scheme was a scam allegedly initiated by Tongan Tilila Siola’a Walker Sumchai, 61, from Richmond, USA.
