Crime

2 cases go to Privy Council

Monday 12 March 2012 | Published in Crime

The London Privy Council is set to hear two Cook Islands land disputes next month. Each case been allocated a one-day hearing during the week of April 18, and each represents an historic occasion, as never before has the British court heard Cook Islands land spats. The cost of being heard before the Privy Council […]

Crime

Rape case dismissed

Saturday 10 March 2012 | Published in Crime

Tangi Brown Toa was a happy man when he left the Cook Islands High Court in Avarua on Thursday. Toa had been charged with assault of a female and attempted rape in August 2010. He had pleaded not guilty to the charge but so far his case has not gone to trial. Crown prosecutor Cheryl […]

Crime

'Structuring' trial set

Saturday 10 March 2012 | Published in Crime

The long expected trial of Christopher and Akisi Mussell looks set to occur in May under Justice Hugh Williams. The two appeared in the Cook Islands High Court in Avarua on Thursday for a call-over to monitor the progress of their file. Deputy solicitor general Catherine Evans announced that this matter is almost ready to […]

Crime

Assault, theft and contempt in court

Saturday 10 March 2012 | Published in Crime

Kevin Caffery appeared for sentencing in court, having pleaded guilty to assaulting a female. The case has been adjourned until March 15. Rodney Ngatikao appeared in court charged with assaulting a constable and receiving stolen goods. The case was adjourned to March 15 with a continuation of previous bail conditions. Leelesh Chandar failed to appear […]

Crime

Cannabis, drink-driving and contempt cases

Tuesday 6 March 2012 | Published in Crime

Christopher and Akisi Mussell appeared in the Cook Islands High Court in Avarua last Thursday charged with structuring, a technique used for money laundering. Defence counsel Tony Manarangi requested a trial date. “These call-overs have lasted a year. My clients want a trial. The reason for not going to trial is that there has been […]

Crime

Alcohol leads to domestic assault

Saturday 3 March 2012 | Published in Crime

Christopher Tangatakino appeared for sentencing at the Cook Islands High Court in Avarua on Thursday after pleading guilty to assaulting a female on February 10 in an attack that started after drinking with friends. Police prosecutor senior sergeant Ruth Hosking-Tane said the assault started when the two were about to leave and Tangatakino pushed the […]

Crime

Incest, fraud, theft cases in court

Tuesday 28 February 2012 | Published in Crime

Justice of the peace Pae Tuteru presided over a session of the Cook Islands High Court at Avarua last Thursday. The session was conducted in courtroom two, as a land court judge from New Zealand is currently on Rarotonga and dealing with tenure issues in courtroom one. Ellis Solomona appeared on charges of burglary and […]

Crime

Offender on 12 burglary charges released on bail

Tuesday 28 February 2012 | Published in Crime

Repeat offender Ngatupuna Rata appeared in court to face 12 burglary charges last Thursday. Defence counsel Wilkie Rasmussen explained that initially the defendant faced eight charges, but acknowledged that police have laid additional charges. The defendant was prepared to enter guilty pleas to ‘several of the charges’ but ‘because the facts surrounding some of the […]

Crime

Judiciary training for Pacific region

Tuesday 28 February 2012 | Published in Crime

Cook Islands court staff are attending a two-week regional workshop designed to help them upskill their own staff. Programme manager Nicole Cherry said “the programme is designed to build the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to competently deliver and manage their own training programmes that will build capacity in their own country or region”. The […]

Crime

Theft, receiving, forgery dealt with

Friday 17 February 2012 | Published in Crime

Justice of the peace Carmen Temata presided over a sitting of the Cook Islands High Court at Avarua yesterday. Joining her on the bench was a colleague from Mauke, who observed the entire session. Christopher Mussell and Akisi Mussell appeared on charges of structuring (the practice of executing financial transactions in a specific pattern calculated […]

Crime

Police accused of 'Gestapo techniques'

Friday 17 February 2012 | Published in Crime

Four males were yesterday called before the court on charges of cultivating cannabis. All are being represented by defence counsel Norman George, and none has entered a plea. All will come before the court again for call-over on March 1. Rongomate P Ivirangi appeared on one charge of cultivating cannabis. George sought an adjournment and […]

Crime

Assault on a female 'not acceptable'

Friday 17 February 2012 | Published in Crime

In court yesterday Tuaine Tangimetua admitted a single charge of assault on a female. Defence counsel Wilkie Rasmussen said by way of mitigation that the assault took place in a ‘group drinking situation’ of which the victim was also a part. He also, however, acknowledged the gravity of the offence. “I think it is generally […]

Crime

'Stay away from the drink'

Saturday 11 February 2012 | Published in Crime

Multiple men facing charges of assault on a female came before justice of the peace Carmen Temata in the high court on Thursday. Temata told the court she was ‘really sad’ to note the number of incidences of domestic violence, and noted that it is a ‘serious issue in the Cook Islands’. Tereinga Rima faces […]

Crime

Drug raid on Mauke

Saturday 11 February 2012 | Published in Crime

Two Mauke men have been arrested on the island and are set to face court over drug offences. The men were arrested this week in a special operation organised by Cook Islands Police. Two men have already been sent to Rarotonga from Mauke to face charges over cultivation of marijuana on the island. Another man […]

Crime

'Don't let alcohol control your life'

Saturday 11 February 2012 | Published in Crime

Michael Brown appeared in the high court on Thursday on one charge of assault on a constable, one charge of assault on a female and one charge of contempt of a court order. The contempt charge relates to the defendant’s consuming of alcohol, which his bail conditions ban him from doing. Defence counsel Charles Petero […]

Crime

Domestic violence 'a serious issue'

Saturday 11 February 2012 | Published in Crime

Tauri Shepherd appeared in the high court on Thursday for sentencing on two charges of assault on a female. Police prosecutor senior sergeant Ruth Hosking-Tane told the court the maximum penalty for the offence is two years’ imprisonment. “The prisoner must be made accountable for actions and harm done to the victimdomestic violence is a […]

Crime

Court laments alcohol-related charges

Saturday 11 February 2012 | Published in Crime

Justice of the Peace Carmen Temata presided over a session of the high court at Avarua on Thursday. Jade Fraser appeared on charges of dangerous driving and failing to stop. Police prosecutor senior sergeant Ruth Hosking-Tane moved to withdraw the failing to stop charge for want of prosecution, “as the defendant was chased by a […]

Crime

Receiving, theft, assault charges heard

Tuesday 7 February 2012 | Published in Crime

Justice of the peace Tui Short presided over a court session last Thursday – half the defendants who appeared before the court were published on Monday (Assault, theft, sex charges dealt with) and here are the other half: Julia Kajer appeared on a charge of receiving stolen property valued at $48. Hosking-Tane read out her […]

Crime

Assault, theft, sex charges dealt with

Monday 6 February 2012 | Published in Crime

Justice of the peace Tui Short presided at a session of the Cook Islands High Court at Avarua on Thursday morning. The defendants called were, in chronological order: Tereapii Tangata Vavia appeared on charges of assault on a female, unlawful damage, breach of a molestation order and wilful damage by fire (of properties valued at […]

Crime

Minors consuming alcohol again an issue

Monday 30 January 2012 | Published in Crime

Justice of the peace John Kenning presided over a lengthy session of the Cook Islands High Court at Avarua last Thursday. The cases that were called before him are as follows, in chronological order: Stephen Spain appeared on three charges one of driving with excess blood alcohol and two of dangerous driving causing injury. Defence […]

Crime

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