Fake cancer patient sent to jail for $2 4m scam

Paul Tuba Mika. Photo / Paul Estcourt

Posing as a cancer patient, Paul Tuba Mika scammed $2.4 million out of his wealthy victim and spent some of it on gambling and booze.

Mika was a charity worker when he met his victim in 2003. He told her he was a cancer patient and wanted to take part in experimental treatment in Australia.

The woman - who has name suppression - also received phone calls from a man who pretended to be Mika's doctor and gave her "progress reports".

The woman gave Mika 166 cheques totalling $2.4 million over nearly eight years.

But Mika never flew to Australia and did not take part in any cancer treatment.

He was arrested last year and pleaded guilty to eight charges of obtaining by deception.

The 55-year-old rested his hand on what appeared to be a Bible as he was sentenced at the Auckland District Court yesterday to four years and eight months in prison.

Crown prosecutor Ian Brookie described the case as a "cynical, prolonged deceit of an elderly victim".

Mr Brookie said even though the victim had "financial means", the money Mika took had deprived real charities of cash.

"This was brazen offending. It wasn't a matter of whether he would get caught, it was a case of when."

Mr Brookie said Mika was a repeat offender who had 29 previous convictions, 23 of which were for dishonesty crimes.

He said Mika had not been deterred by prison sentences, and had cashed one of the cheques from his latest victim on the day after getting out of prison in April 2004.

Mika's lawyer, Adam Holland, said his client was remorseful and had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.

He said Mika's deception did not have the sophistication of a mortgage or finance scheme.

Mika had previously been addicted to gambling and alcohol and had moved away from the city where he became involved in his local church.

Judge Patrick Treston said he "wondered at the sincerity" of Mika's remorse.

Mika's victim felt "vulnerable and disillusioned" by the offending.

Judge Treston said there was little chance that any of the money could be recovered.

"You claim you lost it all in gambling and drinking."

The judge said his starting point for Mika's jail sentence was 6 years but gave him a discount for his early guilty plea.

Mika's victim told the Herald that she did not wish to comment.

"I've got nothing to add to it. Case closed."

Detective Senior Sergeant Hywel Jones said yesterday's result was "overall good".

"He [Mika] is clearly someone who has preyed on vulnerable sections of society."

Mr Jones said people who had been victims of scams should go to the police because their complaints would be taken seriously.

He also encouraged people to know who they were dealing with before making donations.

"Check identification and don't be afraid to ask for credentials and check with phone numbers."