A woman has been sentenced to one year and three months in prison by Tonga’s Supreme Court after pleading guilty to three counts of obtaining money under false pretenses.
Heilala Finau, 23, defrauded three victims of nearly $18,300 by falsely claiming to secure government housing assistance for them.
The jail term resulted from the partial suspension of a total sentence of two years and nine months’ imprisonment.
According to court documents, Finau deceived her victims by falsely claiming she was a clerk for the chief executive officer (CEO) of MEIDECC (Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change, and Communications) and could facilitate housing aid.
In Count One, Finau obtained $12,500 from Malanata Kava i Popua Havea, promising to secure and build a house in Folaha. She fabricated various fees, including $400 for land clearance, $1,600 for construction preparation, and even $500 for a fake trip to New Zealand.
In Count Two, she swindled ‘Elisepa Vaohoi Takitaki out of $3,100, claiming the funds were needed for land subdivision and construction in Lomaiviti. She even convinced Elisepa to pay $200 for a supposed “Valentine’s Day gift” for her CEO.
For Count Three, Finau took $800 from Mafi Taukafa, who was selling goods at Talamahu Market, by pretending to process a housing application. Over several visits, Finau fabricated reasons to request money, including a false $200 “registration fee.”
The Deception Unravels
Mafi and Malanata grew suspicious after Finau’s repeated demands for money. Upon checking with MEIDECC, they discovered no one named “Makitalena Finau” worked there, prompting them to report the scam to police.
Finau was arrested on September 10, 2024, and later pleaded guilty.
In sentencing, Justice Tupou KC said: “The total figure involved is $18,300, evidently, a substantive amount for the complainants earned through selling goods at Talamahu market, committing to a loan and money earned at the cost of leaving a family behind to work abroad.”
The judge handed down a two-year, nine-month prison sentence, with the final 18 months suspended for a period of two years, contingent on strict conditions.
The suspended portion of the sentence was based on a number of criteria, including her early guilty plea and a clean record.
The suspension will only stand if Finau complies with all court-mandated requirements that include not committing any further offences punishable by imprisonment, reporting to the probation office within 48 hours of her release, and completing a life skills course or counselling program as directed by the Salvation Army
Should Finau violate any of these conditions, the suspension may be revoked, requiring her to serve the remaining 18 months in prison. This structured approach aims to ensure both accountability and rehabilitation while protecting the public from further fraudulent schemes.
If Finau violates these terms, she will be required to serve the remaining sentence. With remissions, she is expected to serve 1 year and 3 months in prison.
