Kiwi arrested over disaster-ferry forgery

The Princess Ashika still holds the bodies of the dozens who died. Photo / NZPA, Royal NZ Navy

A former New Zealand businessman who bought the Princess Ashika ferry for Tonga has been arrested on charges of forgery and knowingly using forged documents.

The 37-year-old vessel sank in Tonga in August, killing 74 people.

John Jonesse, a former Napier schoolteacher who ran companies in Christchurch before becoming chief executive of the Shipping Corporation of Polynesia (SCP), is on bail and due to appear in court next month, Tonga Broadcasting reported.

Mr Jonesse was suspended late last year from his executive role at SCP after giving evidence at the royal commission of inquiry into the tragedy.

Tonga's Acting Police Commissioner, Taniela Faletau, said Jonesse was arrested and charged following a later appearance before the commissioners on February 12, Radio NZ International reported.

That day, the lawyer assisting the inquiry, Manuel Varitimos, suggested to Mr Jonesse that he knew from his inspection of the Princess Ashika in Fiji that it was unseaworthy.

"You provided dishonest reports to SCP and the Ministry of Transport. You were prepared to forge a signature and you went to the extent of forging an audit document," said Mr Varitimos.

Mr Jonesse denied the allegations.

The inquiry had previously heard from NZ surveyor David Shaw that his signature had been forged in an alleged audit document on the Ashika, which he never knew existed. The inquiry was told this had been Jonesse's doing.

Jonesse has said in relation to his recommendation to buy the Ashika that he acted responsibly, and the engines had been well maintained.

He accepted there were holes in the hull but said he was not aware the vessel had sailed with them.

- NZPA