Questions are being asked in Tonga over how a New Zealander convicted for his role in a ferry disaster has walked free after only serving six months in jail.
John Jonesse headed the Shipping Corporation of Polynesia which operated the Princess Ashika. The inter-island ferry sank in waters off the capital Nuku'alofa on 5 August 2009, killing 74 people.
Following a trial this year, Jonesse was convicted on 1 April on eight charges including manslaughter by negligence, sending an unseaworthy ship to sea on five occasions, forgery and knowingly using a falsified document.
He was sentenced to five years' jail, but released on Friday after the Tongan Court of Appeal reduced his sentence on appeal.
The chair of the Civil Society Forum of Tonga, Drew Havea, says he is surprised and shocked at the decison and does not think it will sit very well with families of those who died in the disaster.
But Tonga's acting solicitor-general Sione Sisifa says Mr Jonesse's appeal was granted because the sentence was harsher than those given to others involved.
