21 Aug 2002

Prosecution approved the defence's application of fact suppression for top official accused of fraud

3:12 pm on 21 August 2002

A top official facing fraud-related charges in the Cook Islands will have total suppression surrounding the case continued until at least the end of the month.

The registrar of the high court, No-oapi Tearea, says the matter goes before the court on August 29th when a trial date will be determined.

He says name suppression is automatically granted under law and the application to suppress the official's occupation or any facts about the case was agreed to by the prosecution.

Mr Tearea says it's up to the court to decide whether or not to lift the suppression order or grant a permanent one.

"PLAY AUDIO: COOK SUPPRESSION tp"

IN:......THE NAME IS SPELLED OUT..

OUT:...ADDITIONAL REQUESTS

DUR:...15 SECS

The Crown law office says it's yet to decide whether to appeal against the suppression orders.

A member of New Zealand's serious fraud office is assisting in the case and a computer foresics experts has also been called in.