Marine News

Captain of the ill-fated Ady Gil - Pete Bethune has been handed a two year suspended sentence this week from the Japanese courts after he was charged for illegally boarding a whaling vessel in the Antarctic.



Captain Pete Bethune, an ex member of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, admitted to charges of trespassing, vandalism, possession of a knife and obstructing business.

He denied a fifth charge of throwing stink bombs made of butyric acid - rancid butter - at whalers but he was also found guilty of assault.

It is unlikely he will serve any jail time but he will be deported back to his homeland of New Zealand on 9 July 2010.

The Sea Shepherd society spent around $500,000 for his legal defense despite cutting ties with the captain for carrying a bow and arrow.

"Captain Bethune is a hero to the Save the Whales movement. He exposed the brutality and illegality of the Japanese whaling fleet to the world," said a spokesperson.

"When you're willing to risk your life to save the whales, five months as a Japanese prisoner is a good trade-off for the lives saved."

The Ady Gil vessel was a high-powered bio diesel speedboat that was rammed by the Japanese vessel the Shanan Maru on 2nd January this year.

In his defense Bethune argued that he had boarded the boat to make a citizen's arrest of the captain but was instead himself detained and taken to Japan to face charges.