Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Vanuatu Supreme Court dismisses appeal against Phocea’s Dadis

Posted at 22:14 on 07 September, 2012 UTC

Vanuatu’s Supreme Court has dismissed the appeal case against the American national Faviola Irmgrad Brugger Dadis.

Dadis was arrested on board the yacht Phocea when police raided it on July the 22nd.

She was then charged with illegal disembarking and obstructing police officers while they searched the yacht.

Dadis pleaded guilty in the Magistrates Court, resulting in a total fine of less than 2,000 US dollars.

Dadis departed Vanuatu on August the 25th, despite a court order for her not to leave the country.

Chief Justice Lunabeck said the court has no power to impose a penalty on someone who is no longer in the country, dismissing the appeal case against Dadis and five other crew members who have already left the country.