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The captain of the Tongan ferry Princess Ashika which sank more than two months ago says he is prepared to go to jail over the tragedy.
New Zealand’s TV3 reports Captain Maka Tuputupu making the comments ahead of a commission of inquiry due to begin in Tonga this week into the August 5 sinking of the ferry, resulting in the loss of at least 75 lives.
Tuputupu, who has been at home with his family and without a job since the tragedy, has maintained that the Tongan government was aware of the ship's poor condition but pressured him into sailing anyway.
But, TV 3 reports, Maka says he too failed in his duty and accepts he may go to jail over the incident.
“They give me the boat and so I sailed the boat. But I think we both failed”
“Wherever I am standing, I am standing with god. He is bigger than those people willing to put me in prison.”
The Tongan government has appointed an Australian Supreme Court judge, a naval architect and a master mariner to take charge of the inquiry.
Prime Minister Feleti Sevele says his administration will not influence the investigation findings.
“Our role is to facilitate the appointment and the work of the commission. We have no other role in it,” said Sevele.
