Friends give Sands clean bill of health

Friends of the New Zealand man being held by West African rebels say he is impulsive but not a hired gun.

The New Forces rebels in Ivory Coast claim the 36-year-old, who grew up in Hawkes Bay, is a mercenary hired by their country's Government to kill rebel leaders.

But friends in Poland, where Mr Sands spent several years, say he went to Ivory Coast out of curiosity rather than with any sinister intent.

"Hamish has a 'let's go and do it' attitude. He is attracted to places that are off the beaten track, often regarded as not suitable for tourism," said Marek Rzewuski, who met Mr Sands in 1998 and spent several months sailing with him in the Mediterranean and Red Sea in 2000 and 2001.

Mr Rzewuski told the Herald Mr Sands was impulsive and this might have got him into trouble.

"Sometimes Hamish's curiosity and spontaneous actions are wrongly interpreted, but during the time I have known him, he has proved to be a sincere friend and a kind-hearted person."

Raphael Borun, who met Mr Sands in 1999, gave similar testimony. "He's temperamental, but at the same time he's good-natured. He's an honest person."

He did not think Mr Sands had serious psychological problems, as his family have claimed.

Mr Sands had told him he was adopted and had a troubled relationship with his relatives in New Zealand.

Like Mr Rzewuski, Mr Borun believed it was curiosity that led Mr Sands to remote hotspots such as Sudan and now Ivory Coast.

"He probably just wanted to see for himself what was going on but certainly not to take part in any fighting."

His friends knew he had done a stint in the French Foreign Legion but it did not change their view that he was a tourist rather than a mercenary.

He had left Poland, where he was holidaying from his home in Sweden, about three weeks ago. He took basic items and a small amount of cash.

Mr Borun disputed rebel claims that Mr Sands was carrying satellite navigation equipment, body armour and other things that proved he was a mercenary.

He said if Mr Sands had any navigation equipment, it was "standard tourist GPS".

Mr Sands' sister, Catherine Sands-Wearing, said the family were encouraged by reports that the rebels had nearly finished investigating his activities.

The rebels at first threatened to execute Mr Sands but last week told the Herald they would consider freeing him if they received documentary proof that he had psychological problems.

Mrs Sands-Wearing said the family had since provided records of his mental history.