Navy investigates sabotage, bribe claims

Canberra, June 9 (APP) - The Department of Defence is investigating claims that sailors sabotaged a patrol boat and bribed contractors so they could return to Darwin. It follows media reports claiming the water purification unit aboard the patrol boat HMAS Bathurst had been damaged, forcing the vessel to return to Darwin. "I can just say at this stage it is being investigated. A report is due to be released on June 20," a Defence spokesman said on Monday. News Limited newspapers on Monday cited unnamed whistleblowers who claimed the vessel had been deliberately damaged so it would have to return to port. It was also claimed repair contractors had been offered bribes of money and beer to damage equipment so the vessel would remain in the harbour. The report said a preliminary navy report found no evidence that sailors had damaged the vessel, a finding dismissed by whistleblowers as a cover-up.