COURT BRIEFS

Warning for tourists hiring rental vehicles
By Charles Pitt

A case in Criminal Court on Thursday serves as a warning to tourists to double check that vehicles they are hiring have a current warrant of fitness and annual registration. After his appearance in Court on Thursday, one tourist may just take the advice of the Chief JP John Kenning and ask the rental company for a refund on the scooter he hired. The tourist from New Zealand was facing three charges relating to use of the scooter. He pleaded guilty to all charges. It was his first appearance. Police said the tourist was driving while under the influence, he had been driving in excess of 40kph (between 70-80kp) and was not wearing a safety helmet. Lastly the rental scooter he had hired had no current warrant of fitness. Kenning said the Transport Act required an “approved” safety helmet to be worn and he said he was not aware of any approved safety helmets. He added there was no proof of such a thing as approved safety helmets. He therefore dismissed the no-helmet related charge. On the drunken driving charge, the court fined the tourist $150 with $30 court costs. He was also disqualified from holding or obtaining a driver’s licence, for a period of 6 months. On the charge of driving a vehicle without a current warrant of fitness, he was fined $20 with $30 court costs. The tourist said he assumed the bike had a warrant when he hired it from Island Bike Hire. Kenning suggested he might approach the hire company seeking a refund.Puruto’s arrest on his return to the Cook Islands.

High Court will hear long running case on 31 May
A case in which the defendant was first remanded on bail two years ago will be heard in the High Court before Justice Paterson on 31 May 2007. Anthony Kakino has pleaded not guilty and there is to be a trial by jury. Layer Tevita Vakalalabure represents Kakino. Crown Lawyer Tingika Elikana is prosecuting.

Foreign worker lucky in crash
A foreign worker is lucky he was not severely injured following an early morning incident when he lost control of the car he was driving. It crashed through the hedge of a private property and ended up wedged between the hedge and a coconut tree. In Criminal Court on Thursday Police said the 27-year-old man had been drinking and at 4.40am while driving along the main road in Titikaveka towards Arorangi, he lost control of the car he was driving. It was the man’s first appearance in Court and he pleaded guilty to driving while under the influence. Chief JP John Kenning fined the man $150 and ordered him to pay Court costs of $30. He also disqualified the man from holding or obtaining a driver’s licence for a period of 6 months.

JPs rotate for workshop
There were several Justices of the Peace in Criminal Court on Thursday morning as part of a workshop exercise. First up was Tui Short, who heard two cases. He was followed by Carmen Temata, who heard one case. Tui Short then returned to hear another case and he was followed by the Chief JP John Kenning, who heard the remainder of the cases. Other JPs present took notes and there was a debriefing at the end of the session. When Short appeared the second time he said, “This is not musical chairs. There is a reason for this, thank you for your patience.” Those in the public gallery certainly got a bit more exercise than usual, standing and sitting.

Headlines : Times 199 07 April 2007
- Developing harbour priority, says Crocombe
- Tangaroa takes her art to a new level
- COURT BRIEFS
- We Say : The threat to our tourism
- Letters to the Editor
- Te Ipukarea rep joins future leaders learning skills in Apia
- Cook to perfection

Headlines : Times 198 30 April 2007
- Team says review medical referral system
- Spending on health may not be enough
- Disaster exercise goes well, some problems to be fixed
- Telecom 3 bring home benefits from Papeete
- BROADBAND GROWS
- They Say: Te Aponga replies on policies
- The bird is back