Redress sought from Gason’s boss

Press, 28 July 1989, Page 7

Redress sought from Gason’s boss

By SUZANNE KEEN Compensation is being sought from Mr Vince Gason’s Australian boss for suffering the Christchurch man has undergone during his five months of detention in Somalia. Mr Gason’s Christchurch lawyer, Mr Paul Rutledge, said yesterday he intended to issue legal proceedings against Mr John Woods on behalf of Mr Gason.

Mr Woods was a partner in the AustralianSomalia fishing venture which Mr Gason managed. Activities by the venture are the reason Mr Gason has been detained and charged with fraud and theft.

"The situation has again reached a stalemate in Somalia,” Mr Rutledge said. “The amount of

pressure we have been able to bear on the Somali Government has taken things no further now that Mr Gason is out of hospital after being shot.” He had surgery after being shot during civil unrest in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, but is now back in his hotel after a quick recovery. There has been no indication of when his case will go to court.

Mr Rutledge said Mr Gason had now run out of money in Somalia. Since he had been working for the joint fishing venture he had been paid only about $lOOO. He would now be owed at least $20,000 in wages, Mr Rutledge said. As well as suing for compensation for the loss of wages, he would seek compensation for loss of

freedom and earning opportunity while in Somalia and for the shooting, which would not have occurred if he had not been detained.

Mr Rutledge said Mr Gason’s detention was because of the dispute connected with his employers. It was clear that Mr Woods intended doing nothing further to help. He had received a letter last week from Mr Woods’s lawyers, “which basically said we could get lost.” Mr Rutledge said he was seeking an Australian lawyer to act for him in the case against Mr Woods.

A new lawyer is also being sought to represent Mr Gason in Somalia. His previous lawyer was imprisoned last week.