A drink-driving school teacher of 18 years who blew 1000 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath has failed in her bid for name suppression.

Joy Papai made an emotional plea in the Criminal Court when she appeared on a charge of excess breath alcohol on Thursday.  

The court heard she rode a motorcycle into the rear of another motorcycle on June 3, and consequently registered an alcohol reading 1000 mcg, to which she entered a guilty plea.

Papai waived her right to legal counsel and told the court she would speak for herself.

In addressing the court, Papai said she was aged 45 and had been a primary school teacher for 18 years.

Last week had been difficult as she had returned from a funeral in Australia.

Papai then paused.

It was her grandson’s funeral, she then said.

She arrived in Rarotonga about 11pm on May 29 and was meant to return to work, but was sick.

By Friday June 2, she was exhausted and emotional, and had drinks with friends.

Papai told the court she tries to avoid driving at night on Rarotonga.

“Unfortunately, that night I made a mistake.”

Papai said, at the time of the collision, she had left the Cook Islands Game Fishing Club and there was a motorcycle in front of her.

She hit her brakes and hit the motorcycle from behind.

Papai then apologised, saying she should have walked.

“My mentality wasn’t right.”

Papai said she was then taken by Police for questioning but could not recall what she had said to them.

She said the motorcyclist who she had hit was allowed to go home, adding she thought that wasn’t right, because he had also been drinking.

She could remember undergoing a breathalyser test and then apologised to Police for any inconvenience.

She thanked Police and then thanked staff at Arorangi Prison for a nice bed, nice blanket, pillows, toilet, and the use of a kitchen with a microwave oven.

Papai then said she had a letter of apology to the Court and Police.

She would take letters of apology to the motorcyclist she hit, and the fishing club.

“I really am angry at myself because I have never been in trouble with the law.

“I was brought up to not get in trouble; I apologise to everyone.”

She then questioned whether it was right for Police to take a statement from an intoxicated person, saying they should wait till the person is sober.

Papai then apologised again, saying she should not be in Court and didn’t want to be there.

She then asked for name suppression as she was a teacher of 18 years and her father, an ex-police officer who had been anointed as a Judge, and was a Suwarrow ranger.    

She said she wanted to protect her Ministry and lived on her own.

Her father had left the Cook Islands last week and she was caring for her eight-year-old grandson.

Papai then asked for a partial driver licence for school days.

“This is an eye opening experience and a great lesson I have learned in my life.”

Police said they did take a statement from her but it was inadmissible as she didn’t sign it.

Police then said very rarely did a person receive name suppression.

Justice of the Peace Tangi Taoro said Papai’s comments were appreciated along with her early guilty plea and letters of apology.

Her application for a partial driver licence was denied as per regulation and Papai was told she had to serve at least six months of the disqualification.

Name suppression was also denied.

JP Taoro adopted a $500 starting point for the fine due to the high level of alcohol, then took $100 off for the first appearance before a court, then a further 33 per cent for an early guilty plea which brought the amount to $265.

Papai was disqualified from driving for 12 months and ordered to pay $50 court costs.