A man known to the Cook Islands Police was granted bail by Justice of the Peace Vania Kenning after it was confirmed that he would be residing with the Minister for Corrective Services and Tupapa Member of Parliament, George ‘Maggie’ Angene.

Lucas Kamana, 23, was arrested last month and has been in custody since then. He is accused of breaking into and entering three different homes in Tupapa on June 21 with the intent to commit a crime.

Kamana, who faces a charge of three counts of burglary, appeared before JP Kenning on Thursday last week.

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.

Further calls came in at 12.10am and 1.21am, reporting break-ins.

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.

It was earlier reported that in April last year, Kamana was released from custody into the hands of Minister of Corrective Services George “Maggie” Angene after probation had specific concerns about his mental wellbeing.

Probation did not object to his release.

On Thursday, senior police prosecutor senior sergeant Tuaine Manavaroa said there was a “coconut wireless” that the defendant was to reside under the care of Minister Angene.

However, JP Kenning said she won’t be accepting any “coconut wirelesses”.

A probation officer then informed JP Kenning that “the Minister wishes to take him in his care, to reside with him”.

Police then made submissions for bail conditions to be imposed on Kamana.

JP Kenning adjourned the matter to August 22, granting him bail under the conditions that he follow a curfew between 7pm and 7am unless he is with Minister Angene, and that he resides with the Minister.

In another custody matter, Katuke Junior Katuke was granted bail on the conditions not to enter liquor licence premises and not to consume or purchase alcohol, to reside with his father in Nikao and not to contact, interfere or visit the Titikaveka residence where the victims stay.

Katuke is facing three counts of assault on a female.

Senior sergeant Manavaroa said he was not granted bail by the Justice of Peace until he could confirm his place of residence.

He said the defendant was renting in Titikaveka, but since the victims also reside in the same house, he will be staying with his father in Nikao.

JP Kenning adjourned the matter to August 22.