Former Bank employee pleads guilty to stealing $1.5m tala

By Lagi Keresoma

Apia, Samoa – 06 February 2024: A former ANZ Bank employee has pleaded guilty to 305 counts of theft as a servant.

The defendant, Seira Malifa was an employee of the ANZ Bank and is charged with stealing $1.5 million tala from her employer.

There were 25 additional charges but the prosecution asked to withdraw them.

The bank alerted police in November 2022 and an investigation into the allegations was launched with the final charges laid yesterday.

She will be sentenced on 6 March 2024.