Crime
3 bench warrants issued
Saturday 6 February 2010 | Published in Crime
Three bench warrants were issued at last Thursday’s criminal hearing in the High Court. Bobby Tekoronga was charged with excess breath alcohol. His failure to appear in court prompted Reid to issue a bench warrant. Tangatatutai Ngatupuna was charged with cultivating cannabis and assault on a female. He did not appear in court and a […]
Bench warrants issued for non-appearance
Friday 5 February 2010 | Published in Crime
Justice of the Peace Dorice Reid issued bench warrants for a number of people who failed to turn up to court yesterday. Bench warrants were issued for Bobby Tekoronga, Tangatatutai Ngatupuna, David Nicholls, Brett Gibson, David Chaloner, Matangaro Lang, Samuel Karaponga, Temu Okotai, Sakaria Siga and Samuela Seru, who all failed to appear in court. […]
This week's appearances
Saturday 30 January 2010 | Published in Crime
Cases dealt with in the high court this week: Tuarongo Pareangacharged with attempted rape. Pareanga has been advised to seek legal representation and will re-appear before the court on February 4. Andrew Tonoriocharged with theft. Tonorio has 13 outstanding ‘not guilty’ pleas and four outstanding ‘guilty’ pleas. On Thursday he told the court that he’d […]
Bail changed for Williams
Saturday 30 January 2010 | Published in Crime
Paul Williams appeared in court this week for assault on a female. His wife will not be withdrawing the charges. Prosecutor Kim Saunders of Crown Law said that Williams had “approached” and “interfered with” the victim, thus violating the conditions of his bail. Counsel Norman George countered that since the couple is “back together, living […]
Threatening to kill case back in the high court
Saturday 30 January 2010 | Published in Crime
StRuck-off lawyer Tevita Vakalalabure appeared before the high court on Thursday for an outstanding threatening to kill charge. Legal counsel Norman George requested that the case be adjourned until Vakalalabure receives the medical “documents” he is expecting. The defendant is waiting to hear confirmation for an appointment he made with an Auckland specialist, who will […]
28 hearings in criminal court
Wednesday 27 January 2010 | Published in Crime
Justice of the Peace Dorice Reid presided over 28 hearings last Thursday, ranging in nature from careless driving to assisting an escape from prison. Most cases were adjourned to later dates, as legal counsel Norman George said he has just returned to the island and has not had sufficient time to meet with his clients. […]
First court sitting of the year
Friday 15 January 2010 | Published in Crime
Daniel Mare – previously pleaded not guilty to burglary but appeared in court yesterday to assess whether he had legal representation. The defendant still did not have a lawyer and the court heard from the prison warden that no one wanted to represent him or his fellow inmate, Putere Dean. Police prosecutor senior sergeant Tuaine […]
Tahiti claimant seeks title
Thursday 14 January 2010 | Published in Crime
One of the claimants for Rarotonga’s chiefly Makea Nui title says one needs to go deeper into Tahitian history to find out the real story behind the title. Oti Oti, who is of Maukean descent and has been in the country for the last three weeks, has been residing in French Polynesia since 1970. Oti […]
Suppression for official
Tuesday 12 January 2010 | Published in Crime
A prominent island official received name suppression in the High Court yesterday when facing a charge of common assault charge. Justice of the Peace Pae Tuteru granted name suppression for a man accused of assaulting a 57-year-old on Friday night. The alleged offence happened near the office of the ministry of infrastructure and planning in […]
Seven arrests during New Year period
Tuesday 5 January 2010 | Published in Crime
Police are generally pleased with how the New Year period went despite arresting seven people. A 25-year-old male from Arorangi was found to be driving while disqualified last Friday morning – January 1- during a traffic blitz in front of Empire Theatre. He was bailed and will appear in court on January 14. A 37-year-old […]
Audit investigation process questioned
Tuesday 17 November 2009 | Published in Crime
The way in which an audit investigation was carried out into alleged misuse of public funds by the Cook Islands Investment Corporation’s chief executive, was questioned in court yesterday. Suspended CEO John Tini applied for an interim injunction order to be granted by the court to compel the attorney general Sir Terepai Maoate and the […]
Land workshops to create awareness
Monday 16 November 2009 | Published in Crime
The land court community workshops which start today will be purely educational, and not a place to settle disputes. Justice secretary Mark Short says the first part of the workshops will involve presentations by land division staff, and this will be followed by a question-and-answer session. Application forms will be available to those at the […]
Areai-Enoka's religious beliefs questioned
Wednesday 26 August 2009 | Published in Crime
Tuesday 25: Lawyer for one of the accused in the Operation Slush trial questioned Junior Areai-Enoka about his religious beliefs last week. Norman George, Chris Vaile and Charles Koronui are facing conspiracy and corruption charges brought against them by Crown Law. Chris Vaile’s defence counsel, Tim Arnold asked him about a reference in the witness’s […]
Witness accused of abusing privileges
Wednesday 26 August 2009 | Published in Crime
Friday 21: The issue of safety gear was again discussed during the Operation Slush trial as questioning of Junior Areai-Enoka continued on Wednesday. Norman George, Chris Vaile and Charles Koronui are at present facing a raft of dishonesty charges. The witness confirmed a purchase order of safety gear for Aitutaki asbestos cleaning on October 22, […]
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 […]