A former Polynesian Airlines manager in American Samoa has been sentenced to 28 months in prison for stealing over 11,000 US dollars from the airline.
Julie Matautia had pleaded guilty to a charge of embezzlement, while an earlier charge of passing bad cheques was dismissed.
She has also been ordered to pay close to 10,000 dollars in restitution to the Samoa-based airline.
The case only surfaced after an internal audit by the airline's staff in Apia.
At her sentencing, Matautia apologised to the Samoa and American Samoa governments, the court, the airline and her family for her actions.
