Crime
Laptop thief sentenced
Thursday 13 September 2012 | Published in Crime
Chief Justice Tom Weston has sentenced a young man to probation and community service for stealing a laptop computer. Teatuaaveroa Tuakanangaro burgled a private house and took a laptop, which he then sold. This has since been found and given back to complainant. Crown lawyer Sheryl King recommended 12 month’s probation with the first six […]
Gender equality call welcomed
Monday 10 September 2012 | Published in Crime
The Pacific Islands Forum Reference Group to Address Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) has welcomed the adoption by Pacific Island Forum Leaders of the Pacific Leaders’ Gender Equality Declaration. The reference group is an independent high-level group of experts established by the Forum Regional Security Committee to guide the Forum Secretariat and support Forum […]
Woman stole bread, eggs, avocado
Monday 10 September 2012 | Published in Crime
The chief justice sentenced a woman in the High Court on Friday for stealing food. Celina Rae Mitchell entered someone’s house and stole a loaf of bread, some eggs and an avocado. For this burglary, police prosecutor Ruth Hosking-Tane recommended a sentence of probation, community service and reparation. Chief Justice Tom Weston noted that although […]
Joseph jailed
Monday 10 September 2012 | Published in Crime
Kapu Joseph was due to be sentenced by Chief Justice Tom Weston on Friday on four charges of burglary, which he committed in April while on probation for previous offences. But the 18-year-old’s lawyer Norman George was sick, so the sentencing was pushed to November. The court addressed his conditions of bail. He faces no […]
Fines of $350 and $450 for drink driving
Monday 10 September 2012 | Published in Crime
The High Court on September 6 was presided over by Justice of the Peace Tangi Taoro, who passed judgments on the following drink driving offences: Patrick Arioka – pleaded guilty to an excess breath alcohol charge. At around 3am on September 1 police caught Arioka – the deputy prime minister’s chief executive – driving through […]
CJ tells burglar to 'grow up, be responsible'
Monday 10 September 2012 | Published in Crime
The chief justice told a 21-year-old man it was time to “grow up”, in sentencing him for the burglary of a local bar in July. Temotu Arioka was sentenced for one charge of burglary and three of contempt of court in the High Court on Friday. On July 11 Arioka broke into Whatever Bar and […]
Prison guard applies to change guilty plea
Monday 10 September 2012 | Published in Crime
The High Court on September 6 was presided over by Justice of the Peace Tangi Taoro, who passed the following judgments: Nia Peters– appeared on call-over for two charges of assisting prisoners to escape from custody on June 24 and 25 and one charge of aiding and abetting inmates to commit burglaries. His lawyer Charles […]
CJ: Magic wands in short supply
Monday 10 September 2012 | Published in Crime
A man has been sentenced to prison for the safety of the public, despite the judge worrying about the prisoner’s mental health. Teokotai Taruia was sentenced to 12 months in prison for committing three burglaries over June and August this year. The burglary committed in August was done while on bail awaiting sentencing for the […]
Dangerous goods licence disputed
Friday 7 September 2012 | Published in Crime
The court last week declared Triad Pacific Petroleum’s provisional dangerous goods licence void, as labour director Helen Maunga was not legally authorised to issue it. Chief Justice Tom Weston instructed the appropriate authority – secretary of internal affairs Bredina Drollet – to re-issue a licence to Triad. (Drollet had issued Toa’s provisional licence when it […]
Man not to inhale solvents
Thursday 6 September 2012 | Published in Crime
The High Court on August 30 was presided over by Justice of the Peace Carmen Temata, who passed the following sentences: Alberta Tutakiao – was charged with the burglary of Anchor’s Rest holiday house in Betela, Arorangi. Counsel Wilkie Rasmussen applied for the defendant’s bail, since he has been in custody for the last two […]
Allegedly tortured man invokes CJ's power
Thursday 6 September 2012 | Published in Crime
The Penrhyn fisherman who alleges torture by police, prison and probation services had to write to the chief justice before his case came before the courts for consideration. In May this year, Arumia Robert Samatua issued a detailed statement of claim against the attorney-general, with the basis for a claim to substantial damages said to […]
Pukapuka shooter back in court
Thursday 6 September 2012 | Published in Crime
A former street kid trying to turn his life around is again on the wrong side of the law. It was only the favourable character references given by people of high standing in the community that saved him from prison, said Chief Justice Tom Weston in sentencing him on drugs offences. Iorama Ngataua has appeared […]
George's lawyer never got paid
Thursday 6 September 2012 | Published in Crime
The hundreds of thousands of dollars awarded to MP Norman George after his Operation Slush acquittal went straight back into government coffers as part-repayment for him failing to furnish tax returns. After the longest running criminal trial in Cook Islands history finished, defendants Charles Koronui, Chris Vaile and George received a payout of $231,432 from […]
Jury trial aborted
Tuesday 4 September 2012 | Published in Crime
The jury trial of the woman accused of stealing pearls from her employer started yesterday morning – and was aborted by the afternoon. Tipora Maihia is accused of stealing 47 pearl pendants to the value of $5000 between November 1, 2010, and March 12, 2011, from her employer Farm Direct Pearls to sell at her […]
CJ sceptical of man turning over new leaf
Tuesday 4 September 2012 | Published in Crime
A man who committed five out of six burglaries while on bail was sentenced on Friday to three years in prison. In sentencing Ngatapuna Rata for 14 offences, including assaulting a female, Chief Justice Tom Weston noticed the man had a “very significant” criminal record. He has previously spent time in prison for burglary. In […]
Man jailed for assaulting female
Saturday 1 September 2012 | Published in Crime
A Fijian man living in Rarotonga has been sent to prison by the chief justice for committing 10 offences, including assaulting a female. Sakaraia Sucuigau pleaded guilty to assaulting a female, threatening to kill, escaping from police custody, two thefts, two traffic offences including excess breath alcohol, and three contempt of court charges. The most […]
CJ Weston robbed
Saturday 1 September 2012 | Published in Crime
Chief Justice Tom Weston is usually the one sentencing criminals for burglary – now he is at the receiving end. His accommodation at Sokala Villas in Muri was burgled at 5.45 yesterday morning, in the short time it took him to go outside and get the newspaper. A cellphone and wallet was taken, although the […]
MP sentenced for tax evasion
Saturday 1 September 2012 | Published in Crime
The name suppression order against a prominent politician and lawyer convicted on tax evasion charges has been lifted. Norman George pleaded guilty in the High Court yesterday to 12 charges against him and his company Norman George and Associates. The Teenui-Mapumai (Atiu) MP was fined $21,800 on eight charges against his company for failure to […]
Sentence suspended after assaulting partner
Tuesday 28 August 2012 | Published in Crime
The High Court on August 23 was presided over by justice of the peace Carmen Temata, who passed the following judgments: Richard Hoepper – pleaded guilty to assaulting a female. The assault happened during an argument between the defendant and his victim, who are in a de-facto relationship and have six children. The police prosecutor […]
Guard your reputation, says chief justice
Tuesday 28 August 2012 | Published in Crime
Two new lawyers have been admitted to the Cook Islands High Court. Chief Justice Tom Weston admitted lawyers Jacqueline Wi-Kaitaia and Angela Pope to the bar in a swearing-in ceremony on Monday morning. Before welcoming the lawyers to the bar, the chief justice told them it was important to guard their reputation in coming years. […]
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