In three separate cases before Senior District Court Judge Talasa Atoa-Saaga, defendants charged of obtaining by deception, all entered guilty pleas for scamming unsuspecting victims known to them.
Amongst the cases was RSE scammer, Viliamu Tuigamala Faaleleiga also known as Vivien. Vivien and Joseph Lafaele aka Joleen were jointly charged and sentenced in November 2021 to 4 years and 6 months for scamming 13 victims by holding themselves out to be coordinating workers for overseas.
This time, Mr Faaleleiga or Vivien, appeared in Court to face a further charge relating to scamming a woman from Sogi for $650 tala last November.
Fetoai Ajawas also known as Potoae Fiso pleaded guilty to four charges relating to a scam where she received money from Lupe Taulima Sefo of Vaovai. The Court heard that on four separate occassions, Fetoai or Potoae received $1,000 tala, $2,000 tala, $50 tala and $200 tala, all from the same victim.
In another case, Mr Pau Pauesi Leaso Pauesi pleaded guilty to three charges of obtaining by deception. When police called for Pau Pauesi, they named the villages of Lufilufi, Afega and Saleimoa. Judge Atoa-Saaga inquired where the defendant actually lived, and he said, Lufilufi. He said his father was from Afega and his mother was from Saleimoa, but he lived with family at Lufilufi.
Mr Pau Pauesi, who has been seen preaching in busy areas of Apia and Vaitele pleaded guilty to scamming the same victim, Mr Palemia Lilomaiava from Lotopa. The Court heard he had taken amounts of $2,000 tala, $200 tala and $100 tala from Mr Lilomaiava, on three seperate occassions in December 2021.
Judge Atoa-Saaga will sentence all three defendants later this month.
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