28 Jul 2011

Court Islands court official acquitted after private prosecution brought

7:26 pm on 28 July 2011

Cook Islands High Court registrar and acting justice secretary, Claudine Henry-Anguna, has been acquitted on a contempt of court charge.

Justice Colin Nicholson made the ruling in the Rarotonga court today.

Ms Henry-Anguna told the Cook Islands News she is relieved the case is over and she can now get back to work.

She'd denied the charge, which was brought in a private prosecution by Andrew Turua, who'd claimed she was in contempt for not immediately paying land rent as ordered by Justice Kenneth Hingston in March.

Mr Turua was ordered to pay Ms Henry-Anguna's expenses plus the court costs.