The lawyer for a man in a Cook Islands prison who has been awaiting trial for seven months says his client insists on remaining in Arorangi jail until his name is cleared.
34 year-old Albert Tshabalala, who claims to be South African, is charged with possessing papers for forgery.
His counsel Adam McDonnell says they are still waiting for police to bring forth witnesses.
Mr McDonnell says although his client is eligible for bail, Tshabalala has repeatedly requested not to apply for it.
"I have attempted a number of times to persuade him to go on bail as I believe it would be in his best interests. However he feels safe in prison. Helikes the warden is what he's expressed and doesn't have any financial reserves and doesn't want to be a burden on anyone, although obviously he's been a burden on the taxpayer."
Adam McDonnell says he has tried to get the case heard before the Chief Justice who is briefly on the island but the police aren't ready to proceed at this stage.
