‘Doubtful Evidence’ in Tangata Case
Cook Islands opposition party member, Mr Pomani Tangata, was committed to a mental institution on very doubtful evidence says Auckland lawyer, Mr A. Satyanand. Mr Tangata who is challenging the legality of his committal and the subsequent by-election in his constituency, was represented by Mr Satyanand during the recent hearing in Suva. Mr Satyanand says evidence given by all the people involved in Mr Tahgata’s committal was doubtful. "One doctor had read the committal certificate of another doctor before examinging Mr Tangata.” Mr Satyanand says this defeated the whole purpose of having a second medical opinion. He adds that Mr J. K. Brian of the New Zealand High Commission in Suva signed a committal form that could only be signed by Mr Tangata. "Mr Brian was also given the wrong form to fill out,"
says Mr Satyanand. The final hearing in Mr
Tangata's case will be held in Rarotonga on November 21 and is expected to last a week. Mr Tangata will be represented by two Auckland lawyers. Mr John Haig and Mr Graeme Colgan.
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Bibliographic details
Mana (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 10, 10 November 1977, Page 8
Word Count
180‘Doubtful Evidence’ in Tangata Case Mana (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 10, 10 November 1977, Page 8
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