Tonga halts probe into shipping tragedy inquiry

NUKU'ALOFA (AFP) - – A shipping executive in Tonga who bought the doomed Princess Ashika despite evidence the ferry was unsafe has had his legal support axed, halting a probe into the tragedy, officials said.

John Jonesse was into his fourth day of testimony Friday when counsel for the Shipping Corporation of Polynesia said he would have to find a new lawyer because he had been suspended as the corporation's managing director.

It means a temporary delay to the commission of inquiry investigating how the run-down ferry, which sank in August with the loss of 74 lives, was deemed safe and allowed to sail.

The hearing has been adjourned for two weeks, the commission said.

The inquiry has heard that Jonesse was the only person to inspect the ferry before it was bought, even though he had no shipping expertise and his strengths were in management.

Jonesse had previously said Tongan marine experts did not survey the Ashika before it was purchased from a Fijian company early this year and the decision to buy was based entirely on the information he gave the Tongan government.

He also agreed the Ashika sailed in calmer waters in Fiji than it was due to face in Tonga.

The Shipping Corporation of Polynesia is owned by the Tongan government.

Jonesse told the inquiry he had seen the evidence given by a marine engineer and two welders confirming an advanced level of corrosion in the ferry as well as holes in the floor and in the sides of the vessel.

But he said he stood by his conviction that the electrical and the mechanical condition of the vessel was good, which was his main concern.

The vessel sank shortly before midnight on August 5.

Survivors said they noticed it taking on water before it suddenly overturned and went down quickly, allowing no time for people below decks to escape.