A businesswoman, who pleaded guilty last year to writing cheques without having enough money in the bank, has paid back three quarters of the bill she left owing.
Aimiti Edwards, 50, of Moata’a and Maluafou, appeared before District Court Judge, Her Honour Mata Tuatagaloa, on Thursday morning.
Edwards had been the subject of an arrest warrant after failing to appear for sentencing three times last year. However, on Thursday, the Court heard that Edwards had paid back $9,000 of the money.
Defence lawyer, Diana Roma, asked for a non-custodial sentence so that her client is given the time to pay all the money she owes.
As a result, Her Honour Judge Tuatagaloa ordered that Edwards be given until 24 March 2014 at 12:30pm to pay up the remaining balance.
According to the summary of facts, at the time of the incidents, Edwards ran a small shop at Maluafou.
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The offences were conducted against two different businesses; Vailima Molio’o Distributors and Amau Wholesalers. Edwards visited Vailima Molio’o three times on 2 October, 1 November and 4 November, 2012.
On all these occasions, she used cheques from Samoa Commercial Bank (S.C.B.) to pay for the goods, amounting to $12,206.90. At the time, Edwards informed the businesses she had money in her S.C.B. account.
Judge Tuatagaloa told her that she knew very well there was no money in her account with the bank yet knowingly signed cheques to pay for goods from the business.
Also on 10 November, the same year, Edwards committed the same offence at Amau Wholesalers.
She paid for shopping that amounted to $2,168.60 with another cheque, knowing she did not have enough funds. According to the summary of facts, before the Court she had paid the company back.
“There was pre-meditation on your part – you knew it,” said Judge Tuatagaloa.
Paying money back to Amau Wholesalers was however an indication that she was remorseful for her actions, she said.
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