Cdr Vi tells inquiry of attempted bribery [1]
Friday, February 12, 2010 - 23:15. Updated on Friday, May 9, 2014 - 20:34.
At the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the sinking of the Ashika this afternoon, Tonga's Ports Authority manager, Commander Lupeti Vi revealed that Tu'i Uata of Uata Shipping Company had attempted to bribe him with $5,000 in December 2009.
The Commander in his evidence said that Tu'i Uata offered him an envelope consisting of $5,000 cash in the case that he approve the MV Pulupaki entry to the wharf for repair.
Cdr Vi said he declined the offer and told Uata to take it back.
The bribery issue came up when the Commander was asked for his recommendation on what could prevent a similar disaster such as the Ashika. He noted that Government employees need to be competent; Ministers to know proper procedures; there should be no corruption; good governance and transparency; and always doing what is right.
He informed the inquiry that this was not the first time that Tu'i Uata had tried to bribe him and added that prior to December 8, 2009 Tu'i had verbally told him that he would give him money. The Commander said he told him to "shut up".
Pulupaki
On the attempted bribe on December 8, 2009, the witness said they had a meeting at the Ports Authority Office with Port Master Mafi, Tu'i Uata and others. In the meeting Tu'i requested to approve for the Olovaha and Pulupaki to come inside the wharf for repairs,
"I told Tu'i before approving he needed to know for how long the work would take and what sort of work. At the end of the meeting we came out and he asked me to the side and said he would give me money to help me out in the case to allow his vessel to come in. I was so disappointed and I told him to take the money and go and I did not accept it," said the Commander.
He added that he informed his colleagues namely Capt. Mafi that Uata was trying to trick him.
Disappointment
The Commander then added on the following morning he found the same envelope in his vehicle. When he opened it he saw cash in which he estimated it was at $5,000.
He said he came to the office and got a Ports Authority driver to take photographic evidence of the envelope of cash and wrote a letter to Tu'i expressing his disappointment and that he was not accepting the money and told the driver to deliver it. The driver then delivered the letter and envelope accompanied with a delivery book, that was signed when received.
The Commander expressed that he had helped the Uata Shipping a lot dating back to when he was a Navy Commander.
"I was also a personal friend and I was so disappointed on the way that they treated me."
He added that luckily he found the money intact and that it did not fall out his van because no one would have believed him.
He said to date Tu'i had not responded nor had he met him apart from noticing him sitting at the inquiry.
Leave
Lupeti who has been instructed by the Ports Authority Board take three months paid leave, asserted that he was forced to take the leave and this was the first time he was forced on leave.
He confirmed that most members of the Ports Authority Board had been changed except for the Chairman who is the Prime Minister and Mr Prema. He asserted three board members were brought in and they were business people.
The Commander said when asked by the Counsel Assisting Manuel Varitimos on his view on the cause of the Ashika tragedy, he pointed out to various factors.
Firstly, he said it was the Government of Tonga itself, and the way they handled the procurement process; at the same time, it also included the incompetence of the Marine Division employees. He then added that Shipping Corporation of Polynesia Ltd and the Chair 'Alisi Taumoepeau was also incompetent.
At the same time he agreed with the SCP Chairperson's statement given in evidence, "that there is a culture of fear in Tonga to stand up for what is right in the Public Sector because one may be forced to retire early, go on leave or sidelined."
He asserted that Tonga needs people to stand up.