Court nightmare for Adams family
A former Tall Black basketball star has been charged with burglary in the Cook Islands.
Ralph Adams, 52, stands accused of stealing a safe from Mareko Island Creations in Avarua, Rarotonga last Saturday.
Adams is the brother of NBA superstar Steven Adams and Olympic shot put champion Dame Valerie Adams.
Mareko’s owners, Mark and Cherrelle Sherwin, reported the break-in on Monday.
‘‘The safe had the shop takings and also money that my nephews, who are 11 and 14, had been saving all year,’’ Sherwin told the Cook Islands News.
‘‘They are going to New Zealand for five weeks and had put away after-school savings more than $1000 over the year. It is not a nice feeling for them to hear that their money has been taken.
‘‘We had also prepared our staff bonuses for Christmas, and that money was also in the safe.’’ Adams has been granted bail but had to surrender his passport until his next appearance, in February.
An investigating officer said the maximum penalty for burglary in the Cook Islands was a 10-year jail term.
Adams’ lawyer, Charles Petero, applied for name suppression in the Cook Islands to ‘‘give us a chance to let his family know’’.
Petero told the Cook Island News: ‘‘He comes from a highprofile sporting family and this could impact on them, especially as I believe it is highly likely the charges will be withdrawn. I would like to give them a heads-up for any exposure they might face.’’
Adams could not be reached for comment.