Lermontov decision a cover up: Opposition

Press, 30 July 1986, Page 2

Lermontov decision a cover up: Opposition

By

PATRICIA HERBERT

in Wellington

The police decision not to prosecute Captain Don Jamison on charges arising from the sinking of the Mikhail Lermontov was cricised yesterday by the Opposition spokesman on transport, Mr Winston Peter. It continued “a systematic cover-up” of the accident it raised "serious questions on the state of law and judicial process,” he said His comments seemed to imply a political motive and earned him a crisp rebuke from the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Mr Stuart McEwen. He said it was not clear what Mr Peters meant as Mr Peters knew the prosecution issue had been left to the police to decide.

“In my 32 years with the police, I have never known a politician to interfere with this inherent right of discretion,” said Mr McEwen.

Similar allegations to Mr peters’ were also made, however, by National’s spokesman for police, Mr Norman Jones.

He said the Government and its “friends in the Kremlin" would have been embarrassed had Captain Jamison been brought before the courts and alleged that what was being concealed was the extent of Russian blame .for the sinking. Within weeks of the grounding, “The Press” and other news media asked the Minister of Transport, Mr Prebble, under the Official Information Act to release transcripts of the evidence given at the marine inquiry.

Mr Prebble indicated months ago that he was disposed to oblige but said he first had to seek advice from the Solicitor-Gen-eral, Mr Paul Neazor, Q.C.

This advice seems now to have been received because yesterday Mr Prebble said he expected to be able to release all the transcripts in the near future.

He said he was personally in favour of releasing them if only to squash the bizarre rumours” that had been flourishing.

The evidence ran to thousands of pages and included maps and charts. He felt that the easiest way to release it would be to have it published by

the Government Printer. Asked, if that was his thinking, why he did not just release it now, he said a number of parties to the inquiry had written to him questioning whether the hearings were covered by the Official Information Act and that he had told them his advice was that they were. He was now allowing time for them to legally contest his decision should they wish,” he said. The Soviet Ambassador to Wellington, Mr Vladamir Bykov, responded mildly yesterday to the decision not to prosecute. He said Captain jamison

was a New Zealand citizen and that it was up to New Zealand law to decide what was proper.

“As concerns the Soviet Union, we consider the investigation was fair,” he said. “We certainly feel sorry about our ship and or crew member but they will not be returned whatever you do." The police had considered laying a charge of manslaughter against Captain Jamison for the “apparent loss of life” of the Mikhail Lermontov’s refigeration engineer, Mr Pavel Zaglyadinov, but decided criminal prodeedings could not be taken on that count as the body was not recovered.