AVARUA (Cook Islands News/PINA) – Cook Islands Police are tight lipped about a big investigation into alleged misappropriation of government money by a top government official and a business partner. Private properties and government offices were searched by local police. They were understood to have been assisted by an officer from the New Zealand Serious Fraud Office.
The search is understood to be part of a major investigation into alleged misuse of public monies.
Police Commissioner Pira Wichman would not confirm nor deny the involvement of any agencies in assisting the Police Service. He said they are at the “very, very early stages of… inquiry.”
The investigation has been underway for “two or three weeks,” the commissioner said.
