Tokyo, July 12: New Zealand anti-whaling activist Peter Bethune was deported from Japan on Friday after receiving a suspended two-year sentence for obstructing Japanese whaling in the Antarctic Ocean.
Bethune, 45, was sent home on an Air New Zealand flight which left Tokyo’s Narita airport for Auckland at 18:22 (09:22 GMT), airport spokesperson Masaru Motoyama said.
Bethune was convicted at Tokyo District Court on Wednesday on a number of charges including injuring a whaler by hurling a rancid butter stink bomb during the latest campaign by the US-based Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.
His sentence was suspended for five years because, the judge said, Bethune had no criminal record in Japan, had apologised and paid for damage he caused, and because he had said he would join no more Antarctic missions.
Sea Shepherd has hailed him as a hero and “an inspiration in courage and dedication” for helping save hundreds of the ocean giants.
The activist had admitted obstructing commercial activities and charges stemming from climbing aboard the Japanese ship – trespass, vandalism and carrying a knife, with which he cut the ship’s security netting.
But he denied assault relating to a 24-year-old whaler suffering chemical burns to his face during a confrontation on February 11 when activists hurled the stink bombs.
Sea Shepard’s leader, Paul Watson, told Radio New Zealand on Thursday that the pledge on future action was just a legal manoeuvre as Japanese judges would have been hesitant to release the New Zealander if he were to return to the Southern Ocean.
–Agencies