25 Sep 2025

Wānaka woman charged with fake cancer scam also faces sexual assault charge

1:57 pm on 25 September 2025
Andrew Stewart Jones and Sepiuta Setaita Vave appeared via AVL in the Christchurch District Court on Thursday.  25 September 2025 New Zealand Herald photography by by George Heard

Andrew Stewart Jones and Sepiuta Setaita Vave appeared via AVL in the Christchurch District Court on Thursday. Photo: Pool NZME / George Heard

A Wānaka woman accused of being part of a million-dollar fraud through false cancer claims is now also facing a charge of sexual assault.

Sepiuta Vave, 38, and her husband Andrew Jones, 28, were charged with defrauding more than a dozen family, friends and associates, claiming the money was for treatment that was not needed.

The pair appeared by audio-visual link at the Christchurch District Court on Thursday, where it was revealed Vave was facing a new charge of unlawful sexual connection.

They have entered not guilty pleas and remain in custody.

A trial date has been set for September 2026.

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