JOHN Jonesse (62), a New Zealander who is currently serving five years imprisonment at Hu'atolitoli Prison in Tongatapu after being convicted of charges relating to the sinking of the MV Princess Ashika ferry, is not treated differently from any of the Tongan prisoners.

The Superintendent of Prisons Sione Falemanu said on May 6, that Jonesse, the only foreigner prisoner held in Tonga, is being treated the same as other prisoners. "At the same time we note that he is a foreigner," he said.

"We don't send him to the plantation but there are jobs that he does around the prison compound like carpentry, which he is really good at," said the Superintendent. Jonesse had also been helping in a carpentry course for prisoners and assisted with computer filing.

He said that Jonesse is well and was slowly adapting to life at the prison and eating the same food as other prisoners. "But he is a foreigner so we have like hot water for his hot drink at the same time he has money to buy crackers and bread," he said.

Jonesse's wife recently visited Tonga and the Superintendent allowed him an outing to see her because she lives in New Zealand with their children, and he returned to prison after an overnight leave.

On April 4, Jonesse was sentenced to five years imprisonment at Hu'atolitoli on eight counts, including one of manslaughter by negligence, five counts of sending an unseaworthy ship to sea, forgery, and knowingly dealing with a forged document in relation to an Audit Report by David Shaw.