A Tonga police chief inspector, 'Isimoto Vaihu, says a man accused over the sinking of the Princess Ashika had told him he didn't think the boat would sink despite it taking on water and tilting on the night of the disaster.
74 people died in the tragedy and four men are facing manslaughter charges.
Falemaka Fihaki reports from Tonga:
"Chief Inspector Vaihu arrested the Ashika's first mate, Semisi Pomale, in March last year. In a subsequent interview he says Mr Pomale agreed it was his duty to secure the cargo, but there were no chains for this. He says some of it was tied down with ropes, but other cargo was unsecured. Mr Pomale had spoken of being ill on the last voyage but he was required to be on board because he was due to assume command of the vessel. When the Ashika departed Tongatapu Mr Pomale said he'd asked the captain's permission to be replaced by another member of the crew, while he took medication and rested. Mr Pomale said in the interview he'd remembered one crew man advising him the vessel had tilted but couldn't recall receiving any reports from the man on the watch that evening. He says they tried to bail out water for about 15 to 20 minutes and the captain was woken at about ten past eleven on the night of the sinking. Mr Pomale told the police officers he'd never thought of warning the passengers because he didn't think the vessel would sink."
