The Cook Islands Chief Justice Tom Weston has ruled there are sufficient grounds to warrant a former cabinet minister, Teina Bishop, being tried on bribery charges.
One Cook Islands Party leader Teina Bishop Photo: Phillipa Webb / Cook Islands News
This comes after the Cook Islands police chief, Ma'ara Tetava, had sought leave from the High Court to go ahead with the prosecution of the former marine resources minister.
Cook Islands law requires High Court agreement before a member of parliament can be prosecuted.
The issues involve allegations of suspect dealings between Mr Bishop, while he was in the ministerial post, and a foreign fishing company operating in the Cooks, Luen Thai.
