Siosina Valerie Vakasiuola, a 32-year-old car dealer from Fua’amotu, has been found guilty of defrauding two men of TOP$ 47,000 by false pretence. Vakasiuola, who ran V & G Auto Tonga, promised to import vehicles from Japan but failed to deliver.
Vakasiuola was charged with creating fake agreements to deceive prospective buyers. Between June and October 2022, she obtained $30,000 from Isileli Latu Akauola for a truck, promising delivery upon full payment. Akauola paid in installments, but the truck never materialized.
In another instance, Vakasiuola took $17,000 from Viliami Pomale Blake in April 2022 for two vehicles. Blake testified that despite paying for a Skyline and a Honda Stream, he received nothing.
“She is very sorry that in both cases things went wrong,” the court judgment read, acknowledging her repayment arrangements. However, Judge Cooper said, “Miss Vakasioula was not a convincing witness, and I concluded that she had lied to the Court.”
