John Jonesse charged with forgery [1]
Wednesday, February 24, 2010 - 20:15. Updated on Friday, May 9, 2014 - 21:23.
John Jonesse was arrested and charged with criminal forgery last week, and is not permitted to leave Tonga before a court appearance scheduled on March 17.
Jonesse, the suspended manager of the Shipping Corporation of Polynesia Ltd, the operator of the MV Princess Ashika at the time of its sinking, has been charged with forgery and other charges relating to the acquiring of documents relating to the purchasing of the ferry by the Tongan Government from the Patterson Brothers Shipping of Fiji in April 2009.
Deputy Police Commander, Taniela Faletau said this afternoon, February 24, that John Jonesse had been arrested on 18 February and kept overnight in prison. He was charged with forgery then released on bail the following day. John Jonesse is due to appear in court on March 17.
Taniela said that John Jonesse is not allowed to leave the country, and that the police laid criminal charges against him following his appearing in the Commission of Inquiry into the sinking of the MV Ashika. "But we can't use the findings of the Commission, we have to carry out our own investigations," he said.
The Commission of Inquiry is expected to conclude before the end of the month when more arrests and charges may follow on criminal activities relating to the sinking of the MV Princess Ashika in Ha'apai waters with the loss of 74 lives on 5 August 2009.