Search for answers in Strait deaths
16.04.2007
THE adoptive mother of Immigration Department officer Wilfred Baira, who was one of five Torres Strait Islanders lost when their vessel, the Malu Sara, sank 18 months ago, told yesterday how she ``cried and prayed for'' Wilfred, one of nine children she adopted.
``I am angry about what went on with them not searching for Wilfred, and the report coming out blaming him for what happened,'' Elma Nona said on Thursday Island yesterday.
``He was a quiet, gentle boy and he lived with me on Badu. I am here for the inquest to see what happened to Wilfred and the other four people, and what happened to the boat.''
Queensland Coroner Michael Barnes begins an inquest today into the deaths of Baira, Ted Harry, Valerie Faub, Flora Enosa and her four-year old daughter Ethena, who died when the Immigration Department vessel Malu Sara sank off Badu Island in the Torres Strait on October 15, 2005.
Baira was the skipper, but a subsequent investigation by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau found the Immigration Department had not trained him before putting him in charge of the vessel.
The report found Baira did not have a licence to drive any boat, and that the Malu Sara -- one of six 6.5m aluminium boats supplied to the Torres Strait by the Immigration Department to monitor illegal immigrants, illegal fishermen, terrorists and drug runners -- was unseaworthy.
The boat was not fitted with even the most basic safety or navigation equipment. It had only a hand-operated bilge pump, but no global positioning system, depth sounder, chart or radio.
Baira was told to take the Malu Sara from Saibai Island to Badu, a voyage of 74km across open seas, yet it was known the vessel was taking water. He asked that the Malu Sara be taken by barge to Badu, but was reportedly told it was too costly.
After 2pm on October 14, Baira reported by satellite phone that he was in dense fog and rain and was lost. He made more than 80 calls in the next 12 hours before reporting that he was ``taking water and sinking fast''.
However, no rescue vessel was despatched to assist the Malu Sara for more than five hours.
