Refugee retracts SIEV 36 statement

09 February 2010 | 04:40:04 PM | Source: SBS staff and agencies

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The first refugee to give evidence at a coronial inquest into the fatal SIEV 36 boat blast says he can't remember telling authorities that a fellow passenger threatened to blow up the boat.


The blast in April last year was deliberately lit and killed five Afghan passengers.

The Northern Territory coroner is investigating whether the deaths of the five refugees could have been prevents.

However at the inquest, the Afghan refugee reportedly told police in a signed statement that there was fighting between passengers in the lead up to the blast.

Furthermore he says he could smell fuel on the morning of the blast.

The refugee was one of 47 asylum seekers on the boat.

The man told authorities that another passenger told him they had spilt fuel on the boat followed by an Afghan man shouting "I'm burning the boat, I'm killing myself".

However at the inquest the man has retracted his statement, saying he doesn't remember what happened and doesn't know why he told police that story.

The inquest continues.
 

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