The case of a man accused of raping a girl under the age of 12 has been adjourned to January 31, 2025, as he did not appear in the Criminals Court for his call over on Thursday due to extreme mobility issues.

Defence counsel Charles Petero advised Justice of the Peace John Whitta of this.

JP Whitta informed the counsel that the defendant must appear in court. If the defendant is unable to do so due to health reasons, he should liaise with the court to arrange a Zoom appearance.

The man, who has an interim name suppression, is charged with nine counts of inducing an indecent act on a girl under the age of 12 years, and indecent assault on a girl under 12 years.

Police prosecutor senior sergeant Fairoa Tararo said the file against the accused was serious.

The accused is currently on bail.

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Defence lawyer Michelle Tangimama requested the court to allow Marsela Kareroa to travel to Mangaia on December 13 for family reasons.

Kareroa is charged with three counts of theft.

JP Whitta said the accused could travel to Mangaia, as long as it was within the Cook Islands

The prosecution did not object.

The matter has been adjourned to February 27, 2025, and the defendant was told not to apply for a new passport.

Meanwhile, Tangimama has received the video footage from police in regards to the charges against Kareroa.

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Well-known offender Lucas Kamana, who faces a joint burglary charge, and three counts of burglary, has admitted to all four charges.

He will be sentenced on February 19, 2025, by three Justices of the Peace.

The 23-year-old was arrested earlier this year and was bailed in July.

He is accused of breaking in and entering three different homes in Tupapa on June 21 with the intent to commit a crime.

On the morning of June 22, police alerted the public on their social media page that through their swift work, they apprehended an offender after a string of break-ins were reported in Kiikii, overnight.

Police had said the first of three complaints came in at 11.23pm when a bag containing cash was stolen from a house.

Police had said a 23-year-old male, who is “known to Police”, was caught during a search of the area. He was arrested and remanded into custody.

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Tangata Maru, charged for careless driving and excess breath alcohol, entered a guilty plea and had her case adjourned to February 27, 2025 for sentencing.

Maru was represented by defence Tangimama who two months ago, requested for police disclosure and a traffic history of her client.

Maru was ordered not to apply for a passport.

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Dominic Matapo, whose excess blood alcohol case had been adjourned since March while he sought legal aid assistance, will be sentenced on February 27, 2025 after he entered a guilty plea on Thursday.

Three months ago, the matter had been adjourned from March to October, because the application had not been received by the Court, and there was no record of it on file.