Former Ministry of Cultural Development secretary Anthony Turua has appeared in court and been granted a partial driver’s licence.

Turua, who stepped down last month, following spending allegations and a drink driving conviction, was represented by lawyer Mark Short in the Criminal Court on Thursday.

Police had no objections to the application.

Justice of the Peace Tangi Taoro said the application seemed to be in order and noted an attached letter of support for the application from Minister of Cultural Development George “Maggie” Angene.

Turua was asked if he wanted to say anything.

He said no.

JP Taoro said the supporting letter from Minister Angene confirmed Turua’s employment and the court noted he had served 10 months of disqualification.

The letter, obtained by Cook Islands News, dated October 6 confirmed Turua’s employment as an advisor and consultant officer, minister support officer to Angene.

Angene, in the letter, said Turua would be required to support his office in attending work between 8am and 4pm, Monday to Friday, and attend any work meetings after normal work hours as required by Angene.

That included community projects, ministerial portfolio meetings and any national, regional and international meetings via digital communications or in person, and any work commitments over the weekend as required by Angene.

“With all these work mandates, Mr Turua will be required to deliver some of government and community outcomes to reach expected achievements. In order to deliver these outcomes, Mr Turua will be required to travel to and from work areas to accomplish these outcomes.

“Again as Minister, I am duly requesting for a temporary driver’s licence for Mr Turua during work hours from 7am to 7pm until his disciplinary timing has been served.”      

An order was made for a partial licence, allowing Turua to drive between work and home, between Monday and Friday, 7am to 5pm, and also after hours, if required for work purposes.

Turua’s resignation as the Ministry’s secretary was confirmed on September 15 following months of deliberation.    

In a statement at the time, Public Service Commissioner Carl Hunter said he accepted the resignation of Turua from his role as the Head of Ministry (HOM) for the Ministry of Cultural Development (MOCD), on September 13 marking an end to a process that involved his suspension earlier in the year.

Turua was suspended in May pending an investigation by the Public Expenditure Review Committee (PERC), and at the time labelled his suspension “micromanaging”, and said it could have been dealt internally.

It was then revealed in August that he was found to have spent close to $16,000 of taxpayer money without consideration for public interest.

Turua was already on a final warning following his drink driving conviction earlier this year after an incident while he was driving a government vehicle. 

On September 6 it was confirmed Tohoa Tangata Kairua (more commonly known as Emile Kairua) had been appointed to the position of Acting Secretary of the Ministry of Cultural Development.

Kairua has replaced Tamarii Tutangata who had to step down due to health reasons and in New Zealand to receive treatment.