On Air Highlights
Tongan court frees ex-Shipping Corp boss
30 September 2011
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The former managing director of the Shipping Corporation of Polynesia, John Jonesse, has been freed from prison.
In April, Jonesse was sentenced to five years in jail after being found responsible for a passenger ferry – the Princess Ashika – which sank in 2009, killing more than 70 people.
A royal commission of inquiry found the ship was not seaworthy and its crew and captain weren’t competent.
The Princess Ashika was the biggest maritime tragedy in the island nation’s history.
While Jonesse’s conviction stands, today the Tongan court of appeal ruled that the six months Mr Jonesse had served of his five year sentence was long enough and he was free to leave court.
Presenter: Campbell Cooney
Speaker: Monalisa Palu, reporter
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