Crime
Accused drills defendant over purchase detail
Wednesday 26 August 2009 | Published in Crime
Thursday 20: Accused Norman George continued questioning Junior Areai-Enoka on day 11 (Wednesday) of the Operation Slush Trial. The key witness had previously alluded to the court how George was involved with him in purchasing safety gear for the road and quarry operators in the outer island and the asbestos cleaning programme in 2002. The […]
Witness says he was acting on defendant's instructions
Wednesday 19 August 2009 | Published in Crime
Wednesday 19: A key witness in the Operation Slush case was again accused of lying after facing heavy scrutiny during questioning. Junior Areai-Enoka retuned to the stand on Monday as lawyer Norman George continued his cross-examination. George along with Chris Vaile and Charles Koronui are facing numerous conspiracy and corruption charges in the final week […]
Credibility of key witness questioned
Wednesday 19 August 2009 | Published in Crime
Wednesday 19: Norman George began his cross-examination last week on the man whose testimony accuses him of joint conspiracy and corruption. Junior Areai-Enoka was questioned by George who alongside Chris Vaile and Charles Koronui is facing numerous dishonesty charges in the Operation Slush trial. On Thursday before questioning, George stood up and addressed the court […]
Tepaki's debt repayment extended
Wednesday 19 August 2009 | Published in Crime
Friday 14: Developer Tepaki Tepaki has been given four months to repay a debt or risk his company being put into liquidation. Last September, New Zealand architect company Peddle Thorp & Montgomery won a civil suit against Tepaki 1 Holdings Ltd and Tepaki Group for unpaid fees of $124,000. Tepaki failed to make repayments and […]
Witness admits lying for protection
Wednesday 19 August 2009 | Published in Crime
Friday 14: Crown prosecution continued to question their key witness in the Operation Slush trial on Wednesday with evidence gi-ven of more conspiracy and corruption. Junior Areai-Enoka was still being questioned in the case involving Norman George, Chris Vaile and Charles Koronui. The witness had previously said in the stand that a bank account was […]
Witness says refund was for 'political party slush fund'
Wednesday 19 August 2009 | Published in Crime
Thursday 13: A key witness in the Operation Slush court trial told the court how he and an accused planned to deceive the government of thousands of dollars. Junior Areai-Enoka returned to the stand on Tuesday to testify in the trial in which Norman George, Chris Vaile and Charles Koronui face numerous corruption and conspiracy […]
Former mayor explains crusher situation
Wednesday 12 August 2009 | Published in Crime
Tuesday 11: Former mayor of Mangaia testified during the Operation Slush case on Friday. Taata Tangatakino was called as a witness for the trial involving Norman George, Chris Vaile and Charles Koronui. All three defendants are facing numerous conspiracy and corruption charges in the Cook Islands High Court. Prosecution allege there was a conspiracy along […]
Court overturns decision on Makea land
Wednesday 12 August 2009 | Published in Crime
Tuesday 11: The court of appeal has allowed an appeal by members of the Makea family, against a decision made in the land court last year. In April 2008 Justice Heta Hingston determined in favour of June Baudinet relating to an application to correct or annul an order on investigation of title made in the […]
Star witness called
Wednesday 12 August 2009 | Published in Crime
Tuesday 11: The star witness for the prosecution in the Operation Slush case has finally taken to the stand. Junior Areai-Enoka began giving his evidence in the high court in Avarua yesterday afternoon. Areai-Enoka is the key witness involved in all seven transactions that have led to conspiracy and corruption charges being laid against Norman […]
MPs give evidence in Operation Slush trial
Wednesday 12 August 2009 | Published in Crime
Saturday 8: AitUtaki witnesses took to the stand for the third day of the resumed Operation Slush trial on Thursday. Lawyer Norman George, businessman Chris Vaile and former Atiu island secretary Charles Koronui are currently facing numerous conspiracy and corruption charges. Members of parliament Kete Ioane and Teina Bishop and former head of ministry of […]
Political jealousy described in trial
Wednesday 12 August 2009 | Published in Crime
Friday 7: Three further witnesses were called by prosecution to testify on Wednesday during the Operation Slush trial. Lawyer Norman George, businessman Chris Vaile and former Atiu Island secretary Chris Koronui are all facing charges of conspiracy and corruption in the High Court. Vaine Teokotai, former chief executive of Norman George’s then deputy prime minister […]
Defence challenged over DVD screening
Wednesday 12 August 2009 | Published in Crime
Thursday 6: Defence counsel in the Operation Slush trial did not inform prosecution that a DVD would be screened to a witness. Tereapii Porio, former infrastructure manager for Atiu, testified in the Cook Islands High Court yesterday. Lawyer for Vaile, Tim Arnold, organised a mobile DVD player in the ministry of justice office to screen […]
Operation Slush trial resumes
Wednesday 12 August 2009 | Published in Crime
Thursday 6: The country’s biggest court case re-started on Monday with two of the defendants representing themselves. Dubbed ‘Operation Slush’, the trial has been running since October last year. Lawyer Norman George, Chris Vaile and Charles Koronui face of raft conspiracy and corruption charges spanning 1999 to 2002. Appearing before Justice Colin Nicholson this week, […]
Former Finsec gives evidence in trial
Wednesday 12 August 2009 | Published in Crime
Wednesday 12: Former secretary of finance and economic management Kevin Carr was re-examined during the Operation Slush trial on Monday. The case alleges a number of conspiracy and corruption charges against Norman George, Chris Vaile and Charles Koronui and is at present being heard in the Cook Islands High Court. Carr took to the stand […]
Teacher makes bad call
Wednesday 5 August 2009 | Published in Crime
Thursday 30: A Tereora College teacher has admitted to testing for excess breath alcohol after crashing his car at Tupapa earlier this month. Delaney Yaqona pleaded guilty to a charge of returning a result of 480mcg/l – the legal limit is 400mcg/l, after being tested by police on July 19. Yaqona apologised to the court […]
Two years for attempted rape
Wednesday 22 April 2009 | Published in Crime
Monday 20: A 58-year-old man has been sentenced to two years in jail for attempted rape last month. Nooapii Williams Tauu attempted to rape a woman in Titikaveka on March 28. Appearing before Chief Justice David Williams, the court heard how Tauu had been drinking at a house with the victim and others. They all […]
Kissing lands man back in jail
Wednesday 22 April 2009 | Published in Crime
Monday 20: Grabbing and kissing a girl against her will, has landed Anthony Kakino back in prison. The 20-year-old was convicted of indecent assault last week by Chief Justice David Williams in the Cook Islands High Court. He was sentenced to two years in jail. Early Friday, October 23 last year, Kakino was driving his […]
Troublesome youth gets 2 years in jail
Wednesday 22 April 2009 | Published in Crime
Monday 20: Teenager Daniel Mare was sentenced to two years in prison last Thursday in the Cook Islands High Court. Appearing before Chief Justice David Williams, the 16-year-old was sentenced on 31 charges. These included 20 burglary charges spanning from March 2007 to January 2009; theft; two counts of unlawful taking; unlawfully found in an […]
Do something about intersection, chief justice
Wednesday 22 April 2009 | Published in Crime
Saturday 18: The court has urged something be done to a “virtually invisible” stop sign that marred the holiday of a New Zealand tourist. Russel Corfield, 57, had pleaded guilty last month to careless driving causing injury. He returned from New Zealand to appear before Chief Justice David Williams in the Cook Islands High Court […]
Lawyer's assault appeal denied
Wednesday 15 April 2009 | Published in Crime
Saturday 11: Lawyer Tevita Vakalalabure cannot appeal against his assault conviction. In the High Court on Thursday, Chief Justice David Williams denied his appeal application and upheld the guilty verdict Justice of Peace John Kenning handed down in December. The conviction related to an October 30 incident where Vakalalabure assaulted the shop keeper at the […]