Cook Islands Minister Fined

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31077, 4 June 1966, Page 18

Cook Islands Minister Fined

(New Zealand Press Association) RAROTONGA, June 3. R. J. Dashwood pleaded guilty before Chief Justice Fraser in the High Court at Rarotonga this morning.

Dashwood was charged that between January 1 and April 30 he did, as a Cabinet Minister, corruptly attempt to obtain for himself or some other person, a bribe of £lOOO on account of undertaking to advise the Cabinet to accept an offer from an Australian firm for the issue of a Commonwealth crown.

Dashwood was convicted, fined £5O, and ordered to come up for sentence if called on within three years. The Court said that in view of the accused’s age and health a sentence of imprisonment was inappropriate. A. C. Dawson was charged that between January 1 and May 25 he stole two letters and other papers valued at less than £2, the property of R. J. Dashwood and, alternatively, that he received from some person or persons unknown, the letters and papers, knowing them to have been stolen. Dawson pleaded not guilty. Depositions were taken from two police witnesses about to leave the Cook Islands. Their evidence related to the finding of the

relevant papers in accused’s possession after they were reported stolen. The hearing was adjourned to enable the accused to obtain legal advice, which is not available in the Cook Islands.