Convicted antiwhaling activist Bethune deported from Japan+

TOKYO, July 9 Kyodo -
Antiwhaling activist Peter Bethune was deported from Japan on Friday after
being sentenced to two years in prison, suspended for five years, for
obstructing the activities of the Japanese whaling fleet in the Antarctic
Ocean.
Bethune, a 45-year-old New Zealand national, left from Narita airport two days
after being found guilty of conspiring with other Sea Shepherd Conservation
Society members to obstruct the fleet's business and launching a glass bottle
of butyric acid onto the Shonan Maru No. 2, the fleet security escort ship, on
Feb. 11, injuring a 25-year-old crew member.
Bethune was indicted in April on five criminal counts -- trespassing, forcible
obstruction of business, assault, destruction of property and violation of the
firearms and swords control law.
After the Tokyo District Court handed down the ruling on Wednesday, he was
moved to an immigration facility on suspicion of illegal entry as he was not
carrying his passport when he boarded the Japanese vessel.
On Friday evening, Bethune was escorted aboard an Air New Zealand plane at
Narita airport by Japanese immigration officials to be deported from Japan.
==Kyodo
2010-07-10 00:35:22


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