Crime

Accomplice sentenced

Saturday 24 March 2012 | Published in Crime

For conspiring to burgle Ronnie Si’ulepa’s house in conjunction with Bishop Bailey, Kapu Joseph was sentenced in the High Court yesterday. Appearing before Chief Justice Tom Weston, the teenaged defendant represented himself. He responded in the affirmative when Weston asked whether Bailey was the “leader” of the criminal activity. Weston then asked the defendant he […]

Crime

Burglar aged 16 convicted

Saturday 24 March 2012 | Published in Crime

Having admitted a principal charge of burgling Ronnie Si’uelpa’s home, Bishop Bailey appeared for sentencing before Chief Justice Tom Weston in the High Court yesterday. Bailey, 16, also pleaded guilty to a single charge of theft of a cell phone, a single charge of possession of cannabis and a single charge of smoking cannabis. Si’ulepa […]

Crime

2 years in jail for sex crime

Saturday 24 March 2012 | Published in Crime

Seventeen-year-old Ngatokoa Teao has been sentenced to two years in prison after being convicted on a charge of attempted sexual intercourse with a girl under 12. When the prisoner failed to appear in court on Thursday, the bench issued a warrant for his arrest. Yesterday Teao appeared for sentencing before Chief Justice Tom Weston. Prior […]

Crime

Court 'troubled' by drunk driving case

Friday 23 March 2012 | Published in Crime

Teariki Herman was yesterday convicted on charges of drunk driving causing injury and driving with excess breath alcohol. Having already pleaded guilty to both charges through defence counsel Norman George, Herman appeared before Chief Justice Tom Weston for sentencing in the High Court this week. The charges relate to an incident at Avana, when the […]

Crime

Teen's case 'sounded pretty grim'

Friday 23 March 2012 | Published in Crime

Seventeen-year-old student Jade Fraser appeared for sentencing on two charges before Chief Justice Tom Weston in the High Court yesterday. Having admitted to charges of possession of 671 cannabis seeds and dangerous driving, the defendant was treated “exceptionally leniently” by the court, in the words of the chief justice. After delivering his sentence, Weston told […]

Crime

'Disgusting' assault earns 4 convictions

Friday 23 March 2012 | Published in Crime

Tereapii Vavia appeared for sentencing on four separate charges before Chief Justice Tom Weston in the High Court yesterday. He has admitted to assaulting a female, doing wilful damage to a door (valued at $650), doing damage by fire to property (valued at US$4300), and breaching a non-molestation order. Three of those charges relate to […]

Crime

Bench warrant issued

Friday 23 March 2012 | Published in Crime

Teenager Ngatokoa Teao did not appear when called before Chief Justice Tom Weston for sentencing yesterday. Accordingly, Weston issued a bench warrant for his arrest. Teao, who is being represented by defence counsel Norman George, faces four charges – one injuring with intent, one attempted sexual intercourse with a girl under 12 and two contempt […]

Crime

'Excuses' not accepted, dismissal upheld

Friday 23 March 2012 | Published in Crime

Tevaerangi Tatuava has lost a $38,130 claim against the Cook Islands Family Welfare Association (CIFWA) over what she alleged was wrongful termination. Chief Justice Tom Weston heard her claim in the High Court at Avarua on Tuesday. Robert Samuel and Norman George appeared for the plaintiff, and Lavenia Rokoika for the non-government organisation. The crux […]

Crime

Case on hold until company reinstated

Thursday 22 March 2012 | Published in Crime

An ongoing civil case between Yuh Yow Marine and Northern Cook Islands Fishing Company (NCIFC) has been stalled on account of the latter being struck off the Companies Register in mid-September of last year. Chief Justice Tom Weston yesterday adjourned the case until such time as the company is re-instated. “The reality is if they […]

Crime

'Double jeopardy'

Wednesday 21 March 2012 | Published in Crime

Defendant Noema Kauvarevai appeared in court last week on a charge of contempt, to which he pleaded guilty. But defence counsel Norman George claimed he was being doubly fined for a single charge, accusing the police of a “miscarriage of justice”. George called the case a “double penalty”, as the defendant was fined $80 in […]

Crime

JP orders counselling

Wednesday 21 March 2012 | Published in Crime

The court last week placed a man on probation for physically assaulting his partner. Kevin Caffery appeared for call-over on a charge of (being a male) assaulting a female. Defence counsel Norman George labelled the probation services’ recommendation that the defendant serve a six-month probation sentence ‘very harsh’. Of the incident to which the charge […]

Crime

OIA request made for 'secret' report

Tuesday 20 March 2012 | Published in Crime

Cook Islands News yesterday issued an Official Information Act request for release of a public document describing compliance by 12 fuel outlets under the Dangerous Goods Act. The request was issued immediately after the High Court revealed the existence of the report dated November 2010. CINews managing editor John Woods wrote to Internal Affairs secretary […]

Crime

Toa injunction denied

Tuesday 20 March 2012 | Published in Crime

An application for an interim injunction brought by Avatiu landowners against Apex Agencies – parent company of Toa Petroleum – was yesterday denied. Chief Justice Tom Weston heard submissions from Tim Arnold on behalf of hundreds of landowners, who are being represented by Philip Nicholas, and from New Zealand barrister Paul Dale on behalf of […]

Crime

Secret report behind Toa action

Tuesday 20 March 2012 | Published in Crime

Apex Agencies continues to pursue an action it brought in 2010 against the secretary of internal affairs, minister of internal affairs, Triad Petroleum and Te Aponga Uira in relation to its competitor’s dangerous goods licence. In essence, Apex is challenging the ministry’s issuance of a dangerous goods licence to Triad in 2010. Represented by New […]

Crime

Drink, drug, driving cases dealt with

Friday 16 March 2012 | Published in Crime

Yesterday’s sitting of the Cook Islands High Court at Avarua opened with a moment of silence to honour the late Ina Tautu, a long-standing justice of the peace who has passed away. Justice of the peace Tangi Taoro presided over the following cases, appearing in the order in which they were called: Koro Tangaroa appeared […]

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

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