Woman guilty of providing unlicensed immigration advice to Tongans in NZ Featured
30 March, 2018. An Auckland woman has pleaded guilty to charges by the Immigration Advisers Authority (IAA) after allegedly taking payment for giving immigration advice to family members and friends in the Tongan community.
Lealeifuaneva Linda Moala appeared in the Manukau District Court on Tuesday on three charges relating to unlawfully asking for a fee for immigration advice and taking payment.
"The facts in this case are another example of someone taking advantage of Tongan and Pacific people who are in a tough spot," says the registrar of immigration advisers Catherine Albiston.
It's alleged that Moala asked for a fee for the provision of immigration advice knowing she was neither licensed nor exempt.
She also pleaded guilty to one charge of obtaining a payment by deception after leading the victims to believe she was an immigration officer, when she was not, the IAA said.
Moala will next appear in court on June 28.
-TVNZ
