Police seek ?SIS spy | Wairarapa News | Local News in Wairarapa

Auckland

A SOURCE of newspaper allegations that the New Zealand's spy agency the SIS spied on Maori, the mysterious Jack Sanders, is wanted for questioning by police.

A newspaper report on Saturday said the police also want to talk to an associate who also claims Government connections.

The Weekend Herald reported yesterday Mr Sanders, 40, and Gerald Thorns, 50, are wanted by authorities on a different matter to the bugging allegations. The police interest relates to their activities in Southeast Asia.

The Sunday Star-Times newspaper last week alleged SIS operatives spied on Maori organisations and individuals over several years in an operation codenamed "Leaf." The claims are being investigated by the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security, Justice Paul Neazor.

Mr Sanders was allged to be one of "three spies" said to be making the allegations.

The Herald said it had made known he was not an SIS spy and had been involved in several dubious and sensational international allegations over the past two years.

The newspaper said it also understood that no "Operation Leaf" existed in the SIS.

Mr Sanders left New Zealand soon after he unsuccessfully stood for Labour at the 1990 election and is thought to have lived mostly in Asia since. His birth name was James Thomas Stubbs.

The Herald said Mr Sanders and Mr Thorns appeared to be friends who travel together, including as observers to a World Trade Organisation conference in Bangkok this year.

They are both associated with what they call "a virtual NGO" (non-government organisation), Global-Protect All Children (Global-PAC).

The pair have aroused suspicion in Cambodia, where they said they were promoting the work of Global-PAC, which purports to be an anti-paedophile organisation.

The pair have told journalists ? including some in New Zealand ? they are involved in the spy world and the purpose of Global-PAC was to act as a cover, the Herald reported.

Mike Bush, New Zealand police liaison officer based at the New Zealand Embassy in Bangkok, told the Herald the activities of the men are "extremely dubious" and they are of interest to the New Zealand police over their activities in Asia.