Fiji Sun

Former Bati Star Leaves A Trail Of Debt

- STEVE MARSHALL Feedback: leonec@fijisun.com.fj Edited by Osea Bola. It was almost daily, twice a day even, I’d deposit 500 then I’d get a text hey bro, another 500. Adrian Paul Student

He’s known as the flying Fijian who left National Rugby League defenders in the dust. But former Melbourne Storm Premiershi­p winner Sisa Waqa has crossed a different line.

TV programme A Current Affair has acted on complaints it received from Storm fans that claim Waqa dished out low blows by befriendin­g them and taking their money.

A Current Affair exposed the troubled path Sisa Waqa has taken in the wake of a failed stint in French Rugby Union. Waqa is accused of taking $AU12,000 dollars from student Adrian Paul and another $AU1200 dollars from gym owner Kieran Atkin.

Both men admit they were somewhat star-struck when they met the man who helped their team win a precious title. They say Waqa told them that he had money coming to him from his former French club and he needed a loan.

In Paul’s case, the amounts he initially loaned Waqa were relatively small, but got bigger as Waqa’s pleas for more money grew louder.

“It was almost daily, twice a day even, I’d deposit 500 then I’d get a text hey bro , another 500,”

Paul told A Current Affair.

Both men received messages from Waqa admitting the problem.

A Current Affair was investigat­ing this story, more troubling signs regarding Sisa Waqa emerged.

As a Current Affair discovered

Waqa owed a large amount of rent to the Salvation Army for the house he and his family were living in.

The Salvo’s Major Brendan Nottle told A Current Affair Waqa had vanished, so A Current Affair paid his rental a visit. Waqa’s car had four flat tyres, one appeared to be slashed, and two broken tail lights. But he was not there and hasn’t been seen in months.

A close relative from his Nadera home confirmed last night that Waqa is not in the country as attempts were made to get his comment on the claims.

 ?? Photo: Zimbio ?? Sisa Waqa (right) plays for Canberra Raiders before switching to rugby union.
Photo: Zimbio Sisa Waqa (right) plays for Canberra Raiders before switching to rugby union.

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