Ursula Primrose Havili, 34, of Halaleva, has been sentenced by the Supreme Court in Nuku’alofa to one year of imprisonment for making a false statement in order to obtain $52,550.00.
Ursula Havili displays a composed demeanor as she listens to her sentencing at the Supreme Court in Nuku’alofa.
The offence occurred in 2023 in Nuku’alofa and involved misleading claims made to Peni ‘Epenisa, Hopoi Fanua, Tu’itupou Vea, ‘Akesa Maloni, Lavinia La’akulu, and Monika ‘Eli.
Havili has been charged in connection with fraudulent vehicle orders placed in April and June.
Reports on the court decisions said the accused used online platforms to order vehicles from Japan as part of the scheme.
A pattern of vehicle sales fraud is emerging in Tonga’s courts, with recent cases resulting in significant prison sentences.
Kisione To’aho, owner of Getpert Computers, received a two-year sentence in May after pleading guilty to defrauding customers of nearly $30,000.
In a separate proceeding, Filimone To’aho was handed a seven-year prison term for a similar scheme that defrauded victims of more than $230,000.
In a recent ruling, the Supreme Court of Tonga convicted ‘Ofa ki ‘Alaki Fo’ou Tokelau of obtaining $17,000 TOP by false pretences from Elisi Sikulu as part of a fraudulent vehicle scheme.
