KEY POINTS:
Christchurch barrister Leuatea Peseta Iosefa has admitted a charge of theft by a person required to account, involving $83,700.
The plea was entered at a pre-trial call-over session before Judge Colin Doherty in Christchurch District Court today, the Christchurch Court News website reports.
Judge Doherty remanded Iosefa on bail to August 7 for a pre-sentence report, a reparation report and sentence.
Iosefa has had name suppression since he was charged in January 2007, but it was lifted in March. He appealed the lifting of the publication ban but the District Court judge's decision was upheld in a High Court ruling by Justice Jillian Mallon, and his name was first published a month ago.
A depositions hearing had earlier heard that the money was being held by Iosefa on behalf of an elderly woman client. He misappropriated the money in 1999 and 2000 when he was working as a solicitor rather than a barrister, and used it for other purposes.
The client made a complaint to the Law Society.
Defence counsel Richard Raymond said the money had all been repaid. The only money outstanding was the interest payment and that would be paid - before the sentencing - once the amount had been settled.
Iosefa has been practising in Christchurch for many years. He is a respected figure among the Pacific Island community.
- NZPA
