Tongan ferry chief suspended, told to get a lawyer

The Princess Ashika. Photo / Emily Penn

John Jonesse, the embattled managing director of the Shipping Corporation of Polynesia, has been stood down from his role as the Princess Ashika ferry sinking hearing enters its third week.

The former Christchurch businessman gave evidence on Friday at the commission of inquiry into the August 5 sinking of the MV Princess Ashika in which 75 men, women and children died.

The government-owned SCP suspended Mr Jonesse from his duties and said he would need to find himself another lawyer.

The hearing in Nuku'alofa resumes today and Mr Jonesse has been given two weeks to find legal representation for the rest of his testimony and cross-examination.

The Matangi Tonga Online website reported Mr Jonesse told the commission the ferry's required repair works were not completed when it left the Tongan capital on August 5 on its final voyage.

A defect list issued by the Tonga Marine and Ports surveyors found over 40 faults which needed repairs, including holes, broken scuppers and other problems, which were not completely fixed when it sailed that day.

Mr Jonesse said there was no timeframe given for when repairs were to be completed but priority work was conducted on the vessel and it was work in progress.

He said a Cabinet committee comprising the then Minister of Transport, the Minister of Finance and the former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, and himself, met and agreed that the agreement to buy the vessel should go ahead following the recommendations from MoT and normal procurement guidelines.

But last week it was revealed that Mr Jonesse - who bought the Princess Ashika in Fiji on behalf of the Tongan Government - was the only person to inspect the ship before its purchase.

Transport Ministry surveyors were asked to attend the inspection, but did not turn up. After inspecting the ship, he reported back to the Tongan Government that it was in good mechanical condition.

- ADDITIONAL REPORTING: NZPA