Last year, Cook Islands Deputy Prime Minister Robert Tapaitau stood down as a minister after being charged with conspiracy to defraud after an investigation into corruption in Infrastructure Cook Islands and the National Environment Service. He hasn't been tried yet, but this week he has been reinstated:
The seven-month suspension of Cook Islands deputy prime minister, Robert Tapaitau, has been lifted ahead of the general election later in the year.Which sounds superficially reasonable, but if taken seriously, raises the question of why he stepped down in the first place. And the answer to that of course is that a minister continuing to exercise power while on trial for corruption is simply untenable, and creates a perception that the the Prime Minister thinks corruption in office is acceptable. By reinstating Tapaitau, Brown has invited people to draw exactly that conclusion.Tapaitau is facing fraud related and theft charges.
Radio Cook Islands reports Prime Minister Mark Brown saying Tapaitau's court hearing was not expected until next year and someone could not be suspended indefinitely.
The prime minister said there is a presumption that a person is innocent until proven guilty.
(The real reason is that there's an election coming up, and Brown will likely need Tapaitau's vote to stay in office, so basic political probity goes out the window so he can keep his salary and perks...)
