A man who operates a lottery game, referred to locally as “ponesi” (bonus) has landed in Court after a woman claimed he has not paid her all her winnings.Foimai Tapuolo, who is represented by lawyer, Edelma Niumata, has pleaded not guilty to a charge of theft against him.The charge was brought upon him by the Police after Rosa Ainu’u lodged a complaint.Prosecuting on behalf of the Police is Fetu Lagaaia while presiding over the matter is Chief Justice, His Honour Patu Tiava’asu’e Falefatu Sapolu.Having won last year, Ms. Ainu’u claims that she was expected to receive $3,450 from her winnings.AdvertisementBut this did not happen. According to the complainant, she had placed 23 bets on the number 1 to roll over in the Samoa National Lotto as the bonus number on 26 July 2014.She said she paid $155 for the 23 blocks of the number 1. One block cost her $5. The winning prize for one block was $150. When Ms. Ainu’u called the bonus operator the next day for her winnings; she was informed that 11 of the 23 bets she made had been sold to another person.Angry and unhappy, she contacted the Police who investigated and later charged Mr. Tapuolo. Ms. Ainu’u said she questioned the operator over the whereabouts of $55 tala she paid for her 11 blocks. She also maintained that she paid for 23 blocks.During cross-examination, Ms. Niumata asked the complainant if she contacted the operator’s office on the day of the incident to confirm her numbers.She said yes.“I told her to drop number 14 but Situfu was aware of my usual numbers,” she said.Situfu was revealed in Court as the person responsible for selling and collecting payments.It was revealed in Court that the week before the incident, Ms. Ainu’u had paid for the numbers 1, 13, 14, 23 and 32.Ms. Niumata put it to Ms. Ainu’u that because of the phone call, her bets were placed on 12 blocks of 1 plus the other numbers, excluding 14.Ms. Ainu’u denied this.She said she only paid for numbers 13, 14, and 23 the week earlier because Situfu had pushed for it.“I only took those other numbers because I had money to pay for them,” she said.“The money used for those extra bonus payments came from the previous week’s winnings she told the court.”She maintained that her usual bets are on the numbers 1 and 32.