There are indications today that there was no distress signal sent out by the former 3FIR Commanding Officer, Ratu Tevita Uluilakeba Mara.

Local authorities have today confirmed to Fijivillage that if Ratu Tevita had sent out the distress signal on May 9th, the Fiji Navy would have received the signal on its channel.

However the Fiji Navy did not receive any messages.

NZ has also confirmed that it did not receive any distress signals on the day.

If the signal was sent out, NZ said it would have picked it up.

The Tongan government maintained that its navy vessel, Savea received a distress signal and rescued Ratu Tevita from Southern Ono-I-Lau.


Story by: Vijay Narayan