Court
Trial hears of Nga Puna’s concerns for Diane Charlie-Puna
Tuesday 4 July 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Court, Crime, National
Former National Environment Service director Nga Puna has faced his second day on the stand in Court as he faces multiple dishonesty charges.
Nga Puna takes the stand
Monday 3 July 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Court, Crime, National
Former National Environment Service director Nga Puna has taken the stand in Court as he faces multiple dishonesty charges.
Charlie-Puna offers apology in Court
Friday 30 June 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Court, Crime, National
Former Secretary of Infrastructure Cook Islands Diane Charlie-Puna has apologised for her role in conspiracy and theft.
Man on the run for 33 hours
Wednesday 28 June 2023 | Written by Joanne Holden | Published in Court, Crime, National
An 18-year-old Cook Islands man who escaped from Police Headquarters has been recaptured after 33 hours on the run.
Tapaitau continues with denials on second day of questioning
Wednesday 28 June 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Court, Crime, National
Suspended Deputy Prime Minister Robert Tapaitau has been grilled for a second day by the Crown and continued denying conspiring or stealing from the public purse.
Fatal motorbike crash accused granted bail
Friday 23 June 2023 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Court, Crime, National
The motorbike driver accused of causing a fatal crash on June 10, late Saturday morning, has been granted bail.
Police recall timeline of investigation and arrests
Friday 23 June 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Court, National
Police have outlined raids on the offices of suspended Deputy Prime Minister Robert Tapaitau, former National Environment Service director Nga Puna and former Secretary of Infrastructure Cook Islands Diane Charlie-Puna.
NES management labelled ‘ineffective’ following audit
Thursday 22 June 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Court, Crime, National
Cash controls, processes and management at the National Environment Service were ineffective.
High profile fraud trial: ‘Messenger is the safest mode of communication, not calls or texts’
Wednesday 21 June 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Court, National
More details of communications between former National Environment Service director Nga Puna and staff have been revealed in Court.
Retiring Judge given honorary Permanent Residency
Monday 19 June 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Court, Local, National
A long-standing Judge and his wife have been bestowed honorary Cook Islands Permanent Residents.
Court briefs
Monday 19 June 2023 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Court, Crime, National
Simiona Maihia facing drink driving and careless driving charges appeared before Justice of the Peace Nadine Newnham at the Criminal Court in Avarua on Thursday last week.
High profile trial: Series of emails and meta data analysis presented in Court
Monday 19 June 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Court, Crime, National
The high-profile fraud trial involving suspended Deputy Prime Minister Robert Tapaitau, former director of the National Environment Service, Nga Puna and former Secretary of Infrastructure Cook Islands Diane Charlie-Puna, will enter its second week today.
High profile trial: Text messages between three accused read out in Court
Saturday 17 June 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Court, Crime, National
Text messages between suspended Deputy Prime Minister Robert Tapaitau, former director of the National Environment Service, Nga Puna and former Secretary of Infrastructure Cook Islands Diane Charlie-Puna have been read out in Court as details of a Police investigation emerge.
Alleged driver remanded
Friday 16 June 2023 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Court, Crime, National
The alleged motorbike driver involved in the weekend’s fatal crash has been remanded into custody until June 22.
PM gives evidence at high profile trial
Friday 16 June 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Court, Crime, National, Politics
Prime Minister Mark Brown has given evidence on the fourth day of a Judge alone trial where he was questioned about his suspended deputy Robert Tapaitau and former director of the National Environment Service, Nga Puna.
Charlie-Puna accepted she had to pay money back, court told
Thursday 15 June 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Court, Crime, National
Several witnesses took the stand on day three of the Judge alone trial where they discussed details around the movements and travel of former director of the National Environment Service Nga Puna and his wife, former Secretary of Infrastructure Cook Islands Diane Charlie-Puna.
PM Brown takes over ‘suspended’ deputy’s ministerial portfolios
Thursday 15 June 2023 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Court, Crime, Economy, National
Prime Minister Mark Brown will take on all of suspended Deputy PM Robert Tapaitau’s portfolios for the foreseeable future while a high-profile trial is ongoing.
Prime Minister among high profile witnesses called to give evidence
Wednesday 14 June 2023 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Court, Crime, National
Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown is set to be called tomorrow as a witness in a high-profile criminal trial involving suspended Deputy Prime Minister Robert Tapaitau, former director of the National Environment Service Nga Puna and former Secretary of Infrastructure Cook Islands Diane Charlie-Puna.
Claims of lies, leaks, theft and deception at high profile trial
Tuesday 13 June 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Court, National
There were tears in the High Court at Avarua on Monday as the Judge alone trial of suspended Deputy Prime Minister Robert Tapaitau and husband and wife duo, former director of the National Environment Service Nga Puna and former Secretary of Infrastructure Cook Islands Diane Charlie-Puna, got underway.
Man elects to defend himself against failure to stop and refusing breath test charges
Saturday 10 June 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Court, National
A man charged with failing to stop on demand and refusing to undergo a breath test will defend himself.