BY MARISSA ALEXIOU and JESSICA ROUSE
Findings from a Coronial inquiry have confirmed two seafarers were murdered on board the Panamanian registered Sage Sagittarius bound for Newcastle from Japan.
The three unexplained deaths on board the ship, trading between Newcastle and Japan resulted in a federal police investigation, followed by a senate inquiry. The third death was beyond the scope of the Australian investigation.
The inquiry found the chief engineer and the ships chef met with foul play by unidentified person/s on the ship.
Cesar Llanto, the 42-year-old cook disappeared overboard in August 2012 as it approached Australian waters and two weeks later his friend and chief engineer Hector Collado, 55, was killed when the ship moored at Newcastle Harbour.
The third suspicious death was sent to Japanese authorities to investigate. A company official, sent by the owners to Australia to investigate, was found dead on the ship once it was docked back in Japan.
The inquest heard there was "intense conflict and mistrust amongst the crew" and some of the crew were reportedly going to report the captain for alleged physical assaults and maltreatment.
The recommendations from the inquest have been dismissed by the federal government, posing a risk to national security.
The International Transport Workers Federation see it as a massive threat to National Security and are urging the Turbull government to stand up and seriously look at the evidence from the inquiry.
