Police seek man at heart of spy claims

The mysterious Jack Sanders, a source of newspaper allegations that the SIS has spied on Maori, is wanted for questioning by police.

They also want to talk to an associate who also claims Government connections.

Mr Sanders, 40, and Gerald Thorns, 50, are wanted by authorities on a different matter to the bugging allegations. The police interest relates to their activities in Southeast Asia.

The Sunday Star-Times newspaper last week alleged that SIS operatives spied on Maori organisations and individuals over several years in an operation codenamed "Leaf".

The claims are being investigated by the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security, Justice Paul Neazor.

Mr Sanders is one of "three spies" said to be making the allegations.

The Herald has revealed he is not an SIS spy and has been involved in several dubious and sensational international allegations over the past two years.

It is also understood that no "Operation Leaf" existed in the SIS.

Mr Sanders left New Zealand soon after he unsuccessfully stood for Labour at the 1990 election and is thought to have lived mostly in Asia since.

He has changed his name from his birth name, James Thomas Stubbs, under which he stood for Parliament.

Mr Sanders and Mr Thorns appear to be friends who travel together, including as observers to a World Trade Organisation conference in Bangkok this year, for which they provided identical contact details.

They are both associated with what they call "a virtual NGO" (non-government organisation), Global-Protect All Children (Global-PAC).

The pair have aroused suspicion in Cambodia, where they said they were promoting the work of Global-PAC, which purports to be an anti-paedophile organisation.

But the pair have told journalists - including some in New Zealand - that they are involved in the spy world and that the purpose of Global-PAC is to act as a cover.

Mike Bush, New Zealand Police liaison officer based at the New Zealand Embassy in Bangkok, told the Weekend Herald the activities of the men were "extremely dubious".

Mr Bush said the pair were of interest to the New Zealand police.

"I can't say too much for privacy reasons but we are concerned about their activities in Asia."

Global-PAC was part of that.

Mr Sanders has been photographed with former US President Bill Clinton and his wife, Hillary, Prime Minister Helen Clark, Mike Moore when he was head of the World Trade Organisation, and former National Prime Minister Jenny Shipley. The Clintons, Helen Clark and Mr Moore say they do not know him.

Mr Sanders has talked up Mr Thorns' apparent connections with the New Zealand Government.

Richard Woodd, a New Zealander who edits the Phnom Penh Post, said Mr Sanders made a point of mentioning Mr Thorns had worked for Foreign Minister Phil Goff.

A spokesman for Mr Goff said Mr Thorns worked as an assistant on housing matters between 1984 and 1987, but had never been an adviser on foreign affairs nor worked for the Foreign Affairs Ministry.

"Any suggestion that he was an SIS agent would be bizarre."

Mr Sanders and Mr Thorns had told their Cambodian audience that Global-PAC had no offices, but operated in 11 countries with 20 directors, who met periodically to plan and decide how to spend money donated by businesses and philanthropists.

They said in an email to the Post that they "gather evidence on sex tourists and paedophiles and provide it to law enforcement agencies in Cambodia or to embassies of the culprits' country of origin".

The Post noted that Mr Sanders and Mr Thorns said they were "genuine, Christian family men with a serious mission".

The Weekend Herald understands both are separated or divorced.

UNMASKED

Last week, the Sunday Star-Times alleged the SIS had spied on Maori organisations and individuals.

The paper cited three unnamed "spies".

The Herald has since revealed that one of those sources was a mysterious New Zealander, Jack Sanders.

Today the Herald reveals that Jack Sanders and an associate are wanted by New Zealand police.