18 May 2017

Jailed former Cooks cabinet minister may lose resort

5:00 pm on 18 May 2017

The Cook Islands Solicitor General David James is seeking to have the court seize a resort belonging to a former cabinet minister, Teina Bishop.

One Cook Islands Party leader Teina Bishop

Teina Bishop Photo: Phillipa Webb / Cook Islands News

Bishop was convicted of corruptly obtaining a bribe when he was the Minister of Marine Resources and jailed for six months, earlier this year.

An application has been made to the High Court to seize the assets of Aitutaki Village Ltd, a company owned by Bishop.

The Cook Islands News reported the application by Mr James is being made under the seldom-used Proceeds of Crime Act.

He is seeking the forfeiture of the resort or a pecuniary penalty order against Bishop for the benefits he derived from corruptly obtaining a bribe.