Tongan Supreme Court Justice Robert Shuster handed down jail sentences and fines to four individuals and the Shipping Corporation of Polynesia (SCP) for their involvement in the 2009 'Princess Ashika' sinking that resulted in 74 deaths.
Former SCP Managing Director, New Zealander John Jonesse, received the harshest sentence at five years for manslaughter by negligence, in addition to six months for forgery and four years for sending an unworthy ship to sea, reported The Australian. The sentences will be carried out concurrently.
"I accept you have no shipping experience, I accept you are a management person but, frankly, you led a shambles of an organisation," said Justice Shuster, according to Matangi Tonga. "You are the one person here who showed no remorse nor any explanation."
The captain and first mate of the vessel will serve six months of a four-year sentence and 18 months of a three-and-a-half year sentence respectively. Viliami Tu'ipulotu, who at the time was the acting head of the Tongan Government's marine department, received a three-year suspended sentence. The state-owned SCP was fined US$1 million.
