'SIS agent' Sanders protests innocence

Jack Sanders

The "secret agent" accused of spying on Maori activists has broken his silence, accusing police and politicians of running a smear campaign to discredit his "good" name.

Police confirmed yesterday they wanted to question Jack Sanders - one of three "spies" said to be behind allegations Security Intelligence Service agents spied on Maori organisations - over his activities in Southeast Asia.

They refused to specify what they wanted to discuss with Mr Sanders.

However, Mr Sanders has confirmed to the Herald on Sunday he is aware of a "smear campaign" suggesting he is connected with paedophile-related activities.

Earlier this year Sanders and close friend Gerald Thorns, also wanted for questioning by police, established Global-PAC, which purported to be an anti-paedophile organisation. However, the pair have told journalists that Global-PAC was simply a cover for their secret agent work.

Mr Sanders - who, as James Stubbs, stood unsuccessfully as a Labour Party candidate in 1990 - said he was a "family man and committed Christian" and there was no substance to any suggestion he was involved in anything illegal.

He said he had been heavily involved in anti-paedophile work in Cambodia but now worked as a consultant in China.

"That (being a paedophile) is a smear. I am not wanted," he said.

Mr Sanders said he believed the SIS were "living in a fantasy world" but believed there should be a full inquiry, " not a whitewash", into claims secret operatives were spying on Maori activists and organisations.

This week Prime Minister Helen Clark announced that the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security, Justice Paul Neazor, would look into the spying allegations, the propriety of the SIS and whether SIS agents had acted legally.

She said if there had been any legal tapping of phones by SIS agents, she would have known as she, along with retired High Court judge Sir John Jeffries, signed all interception warrants.

SIS director Richard Woods had also told her he had no knowledge of such an operation.

Miss Clark has already questioned Mr Sanders' credibility but has said that if rogue agents were found to have conducted any covert bugging they would be dismissed.

Mr Sanders said he was disappointed the Labour Party was now trying to divorce itself from him.

"My association with the Party was inspired by my father who was a devoted fundraiser for Labour. I am saddened by the lack of honesty that this Government has shown, stooping to an all time low," he said.

"Jesus said, let him, who is without sin, cast the first stone."

- HERALD ON SUNDAY