Ex Tall Black faces charges in Rarotonga
A former Tall Black 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 afterschool 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. It has affected a lot of people.’’
The building’s louvre windows were broken and the safe was torn from its wall fittings before those involved made their getaway.
Cook Islands police were unable to say how much money was in the safe at the time.
Adams appeared in a court in Rarotonga yesterday and was granted bail by Deputy Registrar Nooapii Tearea under a series of conditions.
He had to surrender his passport and is to remain on the Cook Islands until his next court appearance on February 1. Until then he is also required to report to the police station every Friday between 5pm and 6pm.
An investigating officer said the maximum penalty for burglary in the Cook Islands was a 10-year jail term.
‘‘It’s up to the court. If he was to be ‘trial by jury’ it would be closer to that 10 years, but if he enters an early plea, then the court will look at that as well,’’ the officer said.
Veteran basketball coach Steve McKean said Adams was 19 years old when he played for his Auckland team back in 1985. Adams later joined the Tall Blacks and was a player-coach of the Northland Suns basketball team for one season in 1996.
Mckean told Sunday News he visited Adams in Rarotonga last year and he was surprised to hear about the arrest.
‘‘It’s not like him,’’ said McKean.
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 high profile sporting family and this could impact on them, especially as I believe it is highly likely the charges will be withdrawn.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.