Ashika trial dates to be set this week [1]
Monday, September 6, 2010 - 19:14. Updated on Monday, September 9, 2013 - 18:40.
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FOUR persons and the Shipping Corporation of Polynesia Ltd. who are charged with manslaughter by negligence over the death of a young mother, Vae Fetu'u Taufa, in the sinking of the MV Princess Ashika last year, will appear for the first time at the Supreme Court in Nuku'alofa on Wednesday, September 8.
The cases which were committed in July to the Supreme Court for trial, will be called before Justice Shuster to arraign the dates for the trials to begin.
The five accused are the Shipping Corporation of Polynesia Ltd, SCP Managing Director John Jonesse, Captain Makahokovalu Tuputupu, Acting Director of Marine Viliami Tu'ipulou and First Mate Semisi Pomale. All five are charged with manslaughter by negligence and some are also charged with other offences under the Shipping Act.
Five voyages
John Jonesse, and the SCP have been similarly charged with an additional five counts each for sending an unseaworthy ship to sea; for not having a valid safety certificate; for having no loadline certificate; for having no deck line and load line certificate, and for not having stability information.
Captain Makahokovalu Tuputupu and Semisi Pomale are additionally charged with five counts each of taking an unseaworthy ship to sea, having no deckline and loadline certificate, having no valid safety certificate, having no valid loadline certificate and having no stability information.
Viliami Tu'ipulotu is charged with six counts of manslaughter by negligence and five counts of sending an unseaworthy ship to sea. Copyright © www.matangitonga.to [2]