Shipping company and individual facing multiple dishonesty charges

A shipping company and an individual have been landed with two charges of fishing in a foreign country, making a material omission in a document, and making a false statement in a document.

Handfull Marine Company Limited, registered to Fiji, along with Xu Dongpeng, were called in the Criminal Court on Thursday.

While no one from Handfull Marine, nor Dongpeng were present in Court, Crown lawyer Mariata Pittman said the charges had been laid last week, and requested they be referred to the Chief Justice.

The matter was adjourned to July 20 to be heard before the Chief Justice.

Cook Islands News approached Crown Law and Police for more information but did not receive further details.