HERALD WEEKLY ISSUE 428 : 08 October 2008

Crimminal case of the century begins

In the High Court, Justice Nicholson is presiding over the criminal trial of Norman George, Chris Vaile and Charles Koronui in what Norman George described on Monday morning as being the crimminal case of the century.
Chief prosecuting officer is NZ based lawyer, Mike Ruffin with the assistance of Crown Law counsel, Kim Saunders and Martha Henry. The defence team are Paul Davison QC and Rachael Woods representing Norman George and Charles Koronui and Tim Arnold PC for Chris Vaile.
At the hearing, Justice Nicholson directed that the three defendants were to have each of the formal charges read out individually by the Registrar and they were to enter a plea to each and every charge separately. They were also to elect whether they wanted trial by ‘judge and jury’ or by ‘judge alone’ on each individual charge.
All three defendants pleaded not guilty and all three elected trial by judge alone.
The set up in court was quite different from the norm with the judge and two registrars in front as usual, but with an extra bench for the chief prosecutor and 2 prosecution counsel in front of the registrars and the three defence counsel were seated on the bench immediately in front of the public gallery.
Justice Nicholson then asked whether defence counsel had any special seating in mind for their clients and they requested the court’s leave to have their clients sit next to them on the bench. Thus, Tim Arnold had Chris Vaile next to him, then Paul Davison QC and Rachael Woods with Norman George and Charles Koronui on their right.
There was quite a buzz in the courtroom with a number of local lawyers who wanted to observe the two senior counsel from New Zealand in action in the courtroom. However, as a result of an ‘in chambers’ application, the court was cleared of the public except the two news reporters designated to report the trial proceedings. The judge has ruled that there be no publication of any of the contents of the application until the case has been decided in its entirety.
After his ruling on the application, the judge was keen to begin with the trial proper with the prosecution opening their case which will involve ‘100s of pages of evidence and dozens of witnesses’ some of whom will need to travel to Rarotonga to give evidence.
The charges against Norman George
The charges against Norman George are various and complex but basically there are 5 counts of conspiracy under section 280 of the Crimes Act 1969; 7 breaches of the Secret Commissions Act 1994-95; and 2 breaches of sections 244 and 249(a) of the Crimes Act 1969.
The 5 conspiracy charges are under section 280 of the Crimes Act 1969, where George is accused of having conspired ‘by deceit to defraud a person’. The separate charges are regarding defrauding the Atiu Island Council on 3 charges; the Aitutaki Island Council on one charge; and the Mangaia Island Council on another charge.
The alleged breaches of the Secret Commissions Act were: 2 counts for the purchase of a crusher for Mangaia Island; 2 counts in the purchase of a crusher for Atiu Island; one count in the purchase of an Isuzu crane truck for Atiu Island; one count in the purchase of a crusher for Aitutaki Island and one count for facilitating the purchase of a SW41 roller for Atiu Island.
George also faces 2 counts of ‘dishonestly omitting to account (for monies received) ‘thereby committing theft’ in breach of sections 244 and 249 (a) of the Crimes Act 1969. George is former Speaker of the House, former DPM and is currently an Opposition Party member for one of the seats in Atiu as well as being a top barrister and solicitor.
The charges against Chris Vaile
Businessman, Chris Vaile is facing prosecution on 7 charges: with 3 alleged breaches of the Secret Commissions Act 1994-95 where is alleged to have ‘corruptly’ given to an agent of the Crown ‘consideration being a payment of money as a reward for doing an act in relation to the Crown’s business’ in the awarding of the purchase of a crusher for Mangaia Island; in the purchase of a crusher for Atiu Island; and in the purchase of an Isuzu crane truck for Atiu Island.
Vaile also faces 4 charges of conspiracy under section 280 of the Crimes Act 1969, where he is alleged to have conspired ‘by deceit to defraud’ the Atiu Island Council; a similar conspiracy charge with George to defraud the Mangaia Island Council; and a separate count of having conspired with George and Charles Koronui to defraud the Atiu Island Council.
In the chief prosecutor’s presentation to court, it was said that Vaile is a director of Cook Islands National Line Ltd and a director of Triad Enterprises.
The charges against Charles Koronui
The charges against Charles Koronui are 2 counts of conspiracy with George and Vaile ‘by deceit to defraud’ the Atiu Island Council. These are breaches of section 280 of the Crimes Act 1969. Koronui is the former Island Secretary for Atiu Island.

Herald Issue 429 15 October
- Report hints of worse to come
- Impartiality of Queen’s Representative Questioned
- Climate change - No longer just a theory
- Crimminal case of the century begins
-The case for the prosecution
- Workshop shows depth of creativity

Herald Issue 428 08 October
- Troubled Demos search for way forward
- Is there a Ministerial change on the horizon?
- A father asks for forgiveness
- Sponsors sought for Akateni Te Vaka Festival
- Closing the loopholes on foreign enterprises operating in the Cook Islands?
- One laptop per child concept accepted by PNG

Herald Issue 427 04 October
- Reviews of Health Ministry lack funding
- Mangaia hosts parai mangu workshop for ‘Are Marama Nui project
- Financial Secretary’s Blunder Could be Costly!
-Attempt to reunite Ariki
-Roads - maintain them or lose them
-New Zealand actor and whale lady feature in movie

Herald Issue 426 27 September
- Investigation needed into cost of changes at Health
- Expert back from Africa, Ireland next
- Health management decisions questionable!
- Libby comes to town
- Shortland Street star on Safari
- Launch of two memorials to Papa Tom Davis today

Herald Issue 425 20 September
- A technical bill with strong signals
- Complaint exposes lack of written policies
- nfrastructure development cries for a new concept
- Increasing the revenue from Tuna
- Ministry wants Williams to pay up
- Small turnout to roadshow

Herald Issue 424 13 September
- Over 40 PDL creditors meet to discuss options
- Audit Completes 2nd Investigation – Police Inquiry Must Follow!
- World Clean up Day
- A good local role model - Tearoa Tini
- Education, Police sign MOUs
- The customer is always right

Herald Issue 423 06 September
- Chamber calls for changes to the Public Service
- Spending imbalance in the Public Service
- Bleak Future for our Public Service!
- E-revolution at Health Ministry
- Openness to replace culture of secrecy
- Outer Island children to benefit from laptop project

Herald Issue 422 30 August
- Government to develop policy guidelines for land management
- Remembering the Good and the Bad Times!
- Bob’s last journey
- Locals pay tribute to Bob
- Boxing on, the Tahitians are coming
- WHO promotes Healthy Islands

Herald Issue 421 23 August
- Candidate selection the key to change
- Cook Islands response to Fiji’s withdrawal from Forum
- To Compete or Not to Compete!
- Bob Worthington - truly a worthy and meritorious Cook Islander
- Greg Urwin - An Islander at heart
- Anderson heads Chamber

Herald Issue 420 16 August
- Conference a wake up call for the CIP
- Some insight gained of CIP policy path
- Second chance for Executive
- Finance Minister signs China loan
- Proposed Commerce Bill needs life breathed into it
- More on the CIRA conference on Marae

Herald Issue 419 09 August
- CITC buys PDL
- CITC take over of PDL- a brief summary of the key details
- One way ticket out - Thanks to Government!
- PDL + CITC = A monopoly?
- Constitution Day celebrations at the National Auditorium
- International Night at Te Maeva Nui

Herald Issue 418 02 August
- Tepaki up to date says NZ Bank
- Legal framework for commercial sector
- Speed, Dogs and Te Maeva Nui – Recipes for Disasters!
- Youngsters boxing on
- Parkway Diner opens at Punanga Nui market
- A Cook Islander calling the shots at a Melbourne Rugby Club

Herald Issue 417 26 July
- Other building site better say Engineers in report
- Repeat offenders on the loose again!
- Fraudsters won’t be the last
- Strength seen in Pacific Common Market
- Community to discuss water project
- ZOZA – Seeing is believing

Herald Issue 416 19 July
- Wednesday briefing from the Prime Minster
- Cook Islands community in Melbourne hosts Puaikura tour group
- Takitumu Festival 2008 – An Extravaganza Not to Be Missed!
- Atiu being victimized says Glassie
- Digicel seeks $69 Million loan for expansion in South Pacific
- Aquarius problems fundamental says Tepaki

Herald Issue 415 12 July
- Telecom Farewells CEO
- What future for Cook Islands people?
- Health Conference 2008 underway
- The threat of lifestyle diseases
- Setting professional standards in Health
- Author to visit native Cook Islands

Herald Issue 414 05 July
- Resurgence of investor confidence in Tepaki Group
- Make the next QR an Ariki says church pastor
- Visitors ask for their passports back
- Te Aponga Uira to host Annual PPA conference 2008
- Hodges & Munroe move on
- More lime trees for Mitiaro

Herald Issue 413 28 June
- Sunday flights-the greediness for more
- NZ IRD probe orchestrated by locals-Tepaki
- No Sunday flights-Tepaki
- Scary time no trouble to Marsters
- The business of peace
- The Push Factor – Who’s next!

Herald Issue 412 21 June
- House of Ariki hear the views of Government
- Desperately seeking Obama
- Ui Ariki – Has the Bubble Finally Burst!
- Courting disaster
- Tsunami preparing for the big one
- Marsters stands in for Ioane at Bali Meeting

Herald Issue 411 14 June
- Cabinet ignores petition, approves Sunday flights trial
-Ui Ariki vs House of Ariki – The Challenge Ahead!
- Ui Ariki seeking recognition of their mana with a Proclamation
- Lagoon Day and closing ceremony for Environment Week
-Air New Zealand Fare and Capacity Changes
-50th Wedding Anniversary celebration

Herald Issue 410 07 June
- PM injects Rome meeting with Pacific view
- Another week of fluffy ducks!
- Cook Islands to represent the Pacific on the CBD Bureau
- What is Takitumu Lagoon Day all about?
-Sunday flights to Aitutaki
-Women in Sport presentation to Rotary

HEADLINES: ISSUE 409 31 May 2008
- Prime Minister to attend High-Level Conference on World Food Security
- Budget 2008 – Nothing more but more of less!
- Turning up the heat on Peters
- Takitumu Lagoon Day part of National Environment Week events
-Women host High Court Justice
-The mystical wave of Teahupoo

HEADLINES: ISSUE 408 24 May 2008
- As the DPM tightens the purse strings and reigns in spending, others look for an Economic Summit
-Wake Up PSC: It’s time for change!
- Congratulations, Vaine Maui, Woman of the month of May
- Making no excuses, Tepaki apologises to his workers
- Starting and staying in business
The BTIB shows how

-Aquarius Pacific applies for relief from court judgment

HEADLINES: ISSUE 407 17 May 2008
- Casual attitudes poses potential risks!
-Moves aimed at improving management-Tepaki
- Women Agriculture Ministers launch Network at the UN
- Lady Davis seeks $300,000 from CI Herald
- When the sleeping giant awakes
-Cheaper to mine nodules now

HEADLINES: ISSUE 402 12 April 2008
- Cabinet approvals granted
-“Our Economy – Concern or a Con”
Mr Financial Secretary – What Say Ye!

- Breast cancer campaign raises $23,714
- Denise Rairi found not guilty
- Routine steps to achieving 100% Nio Manea
-Specialist speaks on breast cancer

HEADLINES: ISSUE 401 05 April 2008
- Worrying signs in policy document
- Prime Minister’s Office on Witch Hunt!
- Appointment of the Mauke Environment Authority
- Tanks nearly ready at fish farm
- Defence lawyer wants charges against Denise Rairi struck out
-Tahitian Association seeks members, accommodation
-Suppression order lifted by CJ

HEADLINES: ISSUE 400 29 March 2008
- Silence over the economy - quiet before the storm?
- Kete heads to Mauke, Tom misses out
- Helmets – have we been conned!
- Occupation a factor in partition orders
- National Commission to be set up for UNESCO
- Alternative sources for fresh water

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