Tongan's Fraud.

How a Native Lived Luxuriously On "Easy Money."

From Our Own Correspondent.

Nukualofa, Jan. 13.

AT the General Sessions of the Supreme Court in December, a Tongan, Benisimani Latuselu, was found guilty of fraudulent conversion of pro perty for his own use, and was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment. Before passing sentence, the Chief Justice said that this was one of the worst cases of fraud in Tonga.

From 1931 to 1937 the accused was in charge of a labour gang working on the wharf. Instead of giving his labourers their earnings, he persuaded them to leave their money with him to accumulate for the purpose of paying their taxes. With this money, he pur chased a car in 1932 and a new Ford V 8 lorry in 1935. His mode of living underwent a complete change—he dis carded his native loincloth for more ex pensive European suits and a cigar was substituted for the native cigarette. In short, he led the life of a well-to-do European. , Last year a number of his labourers were committed to prison for non-pay ment of tax in respect of periods rang ing from one to five years. These labourers complained against Latuselu and the police commenced their in vestigation, which culminated in this charge of fraud.

It came out in evidence that Latuselu paid £1,500 to one firm alone in respect of accounts during the period of four years (1932-1935), and he also dealt with other firms as well. From this an idea may be formed of the consider able amount of money that went through his hands; but like all “easy money”, it slipped away as quickly as it came —at the time pf his trial Latu selu was insolvent.