Police bring sailor back

Press, 6 May 1978, Page 1

Police bring sailor back

Detectives are bringing a seaman back to New Zealand for questioning in connection with the disappearance of a Christchurch man, Francis George Jacobson, from the container ship Aotea off Japan last week.

The man had agreed to return at the request of the New Zealand policemen, who had no jurisdiction within Japan, said Detective Superintendent J. F. Stevenson, of the Auckland C. 1.8., yesterday. Fie is expected to fly back to New Zealand today or tomorrow under police escort. Mr Stevenson confirmed yesterday that the police suspected foul play in the disappearance of Mr Jacobson. but would not say whether charges would be laid.

Mr Jacobson vanished without trace last Friday when the Aotea was nearing Japan en route from New Zealand. Two senior Auckland detectives met the ship at Tokyo after her master and crew had asked for a full police inquiry into the incident.

The detectives then sailed with the Aotea to the Japanese port of Kobe, wiiere a seaman was taken ashore and asked to accompany them back to New Zealand. The director of crime at national police headquarters in Wellington (Detective Chief Superintendent M. T. Churches) said that no further details would be given until the man had arrived back in New Zealand and been questioned.

A memorial service was held in Christchurch yesterday for Mr Jacobson, an Englishman who was employed as an engineroom storekeeper in the 24,000-tonne Aotea. He was married, with three young children.