Police v Manu [2019] CKHC 33; CR 442 of 2019 (8 August 2019)

IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE COOK ISLANDS
HELD AT RAROTONGA
(CRIMINAL DIVISION)

CRN 442/19

POLICE

v

RHYS BROMLEY MUNRO MANU

Date: 8 August 2019

Counsel: Ms K Bell for the Crown

Mr N George for Defendant

DECISION ON BAIL OF DOHERTY J

[9:13:33]

[1] Rhys Manu was arrested last week and charged with dealing in cannabis.
[2] He seeks bail this morning which is not opposed provided that there is a further grace period in custody of one week. That is to enable police to carry out further investigations into the alleged drug dealing ring which Mr Manu is alleged to be involved in.
[3] The information before the Court is that this is of relatively wide compass and there are a number of people that police continue to investigate.
[4] The proposal is that as only a Judge can grant bail that I do that now conditionally to take affect from one week from today which will be 15^th August 2019.
[5] One of the principles in the grant of bail is that the Court tries to ensure that there be no interference with other witnesses in relation to the allegation that Mr Manu faces. That is what the Crown says is a real possibility until the police have been able to carry out their further investigations in the next week.
[6] Mr George for the defendant seeks bail now but subject to the Court being satisfied that a further remand in custody is necessary, consents to the proposal that I grant bail conditional on the week’s grace period. Otherwise the matter will have to be dealt with remotely to a duty Judge in New Zealand.
[7] It seems from what I am told at least there is a real risk of interference in the meantime until police are able to carry out their investigations.
[8] Mr Manu is therefore remanded in custody until 10am, 15 August 2019. At that time he will be admitted to bail and remanded to appear in this Court at 9am on 19 September 2019 at a sitting of this Court.
[9] In the meantime his conditions are of bail are:

1. that he not associate with Rodney John Ngatikao;
2. he is not to apply for passport;

100. he is to surrender any travel documents he currently has to the Registrar of this Court; and

4. he is not to leave the island of Rarotonga without permission from this Court.

[10] That bases your remand into custody until next week.

Colin Doherty, J