A 14-year-old juvenile suspected of committing multiple crimes, such as theft, burglary, and unlawful taking of motorcycles, appeared in a closed court session yesterday.

Cook Islands Police spokesperson Trevor Pitt said the juvenile suspect charged for theft, burglary, and unlawful taking is alleged to be involved with a string of incidents over recent days.

Police believe the individual is responsible for “blowing out” the monthly figure for unlawful taking of motorbikes.

Pitt said the 14-year-old suspect is known to Police as a result of multiple offences occurring early this year.

However, he attributed the delay in processing the juvenile’s police file for the earlier incidents to the stalled Juvenile Crime Prevention Committee (JCPC).

“The JCPC has been inactive for a year and a half, leaving a queue of at least four cases for processing,” Pitt said.

Previously, the Cook Islands Police Service questioned why the Juvenile Crime Prevention Committee (JCPC) took so long to be activated, despite cases, including one dating back to July last year, lined up for its consideration.

Youths aged 15 and under must go through a process where the police submit applications to the JCPC for approval before charges are laid.

Tamatoa Jonassen, the former Secretary for Justice, had earlier told Cook Islands News that the JCPC has been inactive for over a decade.

Last year, the ministry had sought public interest for members of the committee.

Minister for Justice Vaine (Mac) Mokoroa yesterday told the newspaper that with the exit of Jonassen from the ministry, the process of completing the establishment of the JCPC was not accomplished.

Mokoroa said one of the first tasks for the incoming Head of Ministry (HoM) would be to establish the Juvenile Crime Prevention Committee to hear the pending cases.

The Minister said he wasn’t sure of Jonassen’s progress on establishing the JCPC, but expressed confidence that it would be established within the incoming HoM’s first two months in the office.

Jonassen’s resignation due to personal reasons came into effect on May 6, 2024, seven months before his second term as the Secretary for Justice was due to end on December 10, 2024.

Public Service Commissioner Carl Hunter confirmed that the recruitment process for the new Secretary for Justice was yet to conclude. 

“Under my Act – the Public Service Act 2009, Cabinet will have to confirm the terms and conditions of appointment of a head of department that are to be set out in a contract of employment made between myself and the successful appointee,” Hunter said.