Crime
Young men charged for fight outside Empire movie theatre
Wednesday 4 December 2013 | Published in Crime
All matters at the criminal court on Thursday were set aside to make way for both the Superannuation case with Chief Justice Thomas Weston and High Court judge session with Justice Christine Grice. All matters were adjourned by deputy registrar Nooapii Tearea to be dealt with by a Justice of the Peace in the following […]
Unintentional overstayer allowed to go home
Tuesday 3 December 2013 | Published in Crime
Imported Samoan rugby player Fa’afou Amate has had his 12 month probation sentence for assaulting a woman substituted, amid worry his over-stayer status was causing undue hardship on him and the local Rarotonga community. Amate, 34, will now be paying a $730 fine instead of spending a year in Rarotonga on probation after his lawyer […]
Pokoinu land case sent back to judge
Tuesday 3 December 2013 | Published in Crime
New evidence that may alter the outcome of the Pokoinu Tapere sections 227 and 228 land case was accepted by court of appeal judges on Friday last week, and the case has been sent back to land court judge Justice Patrick Savage for re-hearing. Court of appeal judges Justice Sir Ian Barker, Justice David Williams […]
Sex with minor lands man in prison
Tuesday 3 December 2013 | Published in Crime
An Aitutaki man has been sentenced to five months’ imprisonment for a charge of having sex with a minor between 12 to 16 years of age, despite being in a romantic relationship with the victim. Peterson Teinakore, 32, stood calmly in the court room while High Court judge Justice Christine Grice handed out her decision, […]
The power of gratitude
Saturday 30 November 2013 | Published in Crime
Have you ever wondered what it takes to be truly happy? Many Cook Islanders know that it has very little to do with material things; How much we have, how much we can get. Having stuff is illusory. Even after we get something we’ve wanted for a long time, how quickly that initial satisfaction fades. […]
Superfund case concludes
Saturday 30 November 2013 | Published in Crime
The High Court of the Cook Islands concluded hearing arguments on Thursday in the high-profile superannuation case, which has been roughly five years in the making. What began as criminal proceedings into the issue of non-compliance with the Cook Islands National Superannuation Fund (CINSF) Act turned into a debate looking at the retirement scheme’s constitutionality. […]
Op Eagle prison time cut
Wednesday 27 November 2013 | Published in Crime
Operation Eagle convicts Mark Franklin and Mere King have won their appeal and have received reduced prison sentences. At a decision announcement at the Avarua court house on Friday, court of appeal judges Justice Sir Ian Barker, Justice Barry Paterson and Justice David Williams delivered their decision to both offenders. Franklin, 55, has had his […]
Ringi not hired by MFAI secretary
Monday 25 November 2013 | Published in Crime
Former Secretary of Foreign Affairs Jim Gosselin did not have the authority to sack Director of Immigration Kave Ringi last year, because he was not the one who appointed him to the role. That was one of the arguments presented to the Court of Appeal on Tuesday last week by Ringi’s lawyers Brian Mason and […]
Tata Crocombe's tax appeal heard in court
Thursday 21 November 2013 | Published in Crime
A decision was reserved yesterday in the latest episode of businessman Tata Crocombe’s on-going tax appeal. The Court of Appeal’s Justice Sir Ian Barker, Justice David Williams, and Justice Barry Paterson, heard arguments by Crocombe’s NZ-based lawyer Paul David, and Mike Ruffin – representing the collector of inland revenue, who at the time was Rarotonga […]
Franklin 'pestered' by undercover cop
Wednesday 20 November 2013 | Published in Crime
Personal circumstances, non-profitability and a pesky undercover cop were the basis for an appeal by jailed New Zealand ex-cop Mark Franklin and fellow Operation Eagle offender Mere King. Both Franklin, 55, and King, 57, are appealing their sentences this week and appeared to court on Monday with their lawyers Tony Manarangi and Paul Dale. Dale […]
Operation Eagle appeals today
Monday 18 November 2013 | Published in Crime
An array of public interest cases will be heard in this year’s court of appeal session starting today. Disgraced New Zealand ex-cop Mark Franklin is scheduled to appear in the annual Court of Appeal session beginning next Monday, in an attempt to appeal his 12 month prison sentence. Franklin will be joined by fellow Operation […]
Assault natural reaction to 'testicle grab'
Monday 18 November 2013 | Published in Crime
The High Court on November 11 was presided over by Justice of the Peace Tangi Taoro, who made the following judgements: Jim Arai, 46, appeared in court to face sentencing for a charge of assault on a female. Both police and Arai’s lawyer Norman George recommended a six month suspended sentence for the charge as […]
Youth not allowed to call a lawyer while imprisoned
Monday 18 November 2013 | Published in Crime
A young man accused of assault claims he was not given the opportunity by prison officers to use the phone and contact a lawyer while he was imprisoned for 10 days. Maara Teretaiti, 18, had been in remand at Arorangi Prison after being arrested for assaulting a female, and appeared on Thursday for a call-over […]
PM burglary accused acquitted
Monday 18 November 2013 | Published in Crime
Burglary accused William Wade has been found not guilty of breaking in to Prime Minister Henry Puna’s house and taking 4000 black pearls. Justices of the Peace Gina Williams, John Kenning and Mata Nooroa relayed their decision to an empty court room on Friday, saying prosecution had not proven that Wade broke into the house […]
Criminal association revealed in Wade trial
Monday 18 November 2013 | Published in Crime
A defence witness in the trial of burglary-accused William Wade had admitted to receiving black pearls from well-known criminals Michael Brown and Riki Carlson. Wade, 27, accused of stealing 4000 black pearls from the home of the prime minister, appeared for his final trial session last Friday. Wade’s partner, Clare Piniata, and mother-in-law, Fialoma Piniata, […]
Report shows Pacific courts improving
Saturday 16 November 2013 | Published in Crime
Courts in the Pacific Islands have become more accountable and transparent in areas such as costs and the way they handle complaints, according to a new report. The Cook Islands is one of 14 countries taking part in the Pacific Judicial Development Programme (PJDP), which aims to promote more effective justice systems. The programme works […]
Grey Power 'paid their dues'
Saturday 16 November 2013 | Published in Crime
“Those confused minds complaining about the Grey Power know nothing about what they have been through,” a smoke signaller writes. “In this group – I’m talking about the Cook Islanders, not permanent residents or Kiwis – they were all born here, raised their children here, then left for New Zealand on the Moana Roa and […]
Imported rugby player sentenced to probation
Monday 11 November 2013 | Published in Crime
A Takuvaine Reds rugby player scheduled to return to his homeland of Samoa will now be an overstayer on probation in Rarotonga. Samoan import player Fa’afou Amate was sentenced on Friday by Justice of the Peace Carmen Temata to 12 months’ probation and 2 months’ community service for a charge of assault on a female. […]
Trial for suspended officer won't be held 'for a while'
Monday 11 November 2013 | Published in Crime
The trial of a senior police sergeant charged with manslaughter for the death of 16-year-old Pukana Piniata won’t be held until late next year, and he will remain suspended from the police service. Ratai Kaivananga, 59, appeared in court for a call-over on Thursday where his lawyer Norman George told the court that he understood […]
Repeat offender back in prison for sixth time
Monday 11 November 2013 | Published in Crime
High Court on November 7 was presided over by Justice of the Peace Carmen Temata, who made the following judgements: Rima Iotua, 22, appeared in court for a charge of possession of a utensil and a defended hearing for five breach-of-probation charges. Crown prosecutor Cheryl King told the court that accountability and responsibility for the […]