Hoax questions over search for dinghy

POLICE are investigating whether a hoax call is behind a two-day air and sea search for seven people allegedly missing in a sinking dinghy in Torres Strait.

Up to 10 aircraft - five helicopters and five fixed wing - and two ships have been scouring the waters between Dauan Island and Badu Island after a male caller on a mobile rang triple-0 about 6pm on Wednesday.

The man told a Queensland Ambulance Service operator he was on a small boat with six others taking water.

But, in a worrying twist, investigators found the registered mobile phone that made the distress call was turned on again yesterday briefly and used to make a call from east of Saibai Island.

Saibai Island is northeast of the search grid and well out of the indicated route of travel of the alleged missing boat and passengers.

Police have not yet been able to locate the registered owner of the phone for questioning, making it unclear if it is a hoax or a genuine distress call.

Search co-ordinators have been hampered today by wild monsoonal weather with low level cloud cover and heavy rain squalls ruling out any further aerial search operation.

Tensions are high in the region in the aftermath of the sinking of the Malu Sara with the tragic loss of five lives when repeated distress calls were ignored by two officials on Thursday Island in 2005.

One of the Queensland Police officers involved in the tragedy is still fighting to keep his job after a CMC review.

It will be up to a Police Deputy Commissioner to decide today whether or not to continue the large-scale search given the hefty cost to taxpayers.

Police from Thursday Island have teamed up with rescue aircraft from Cairns, Weipa, Horn Island and Darwin but have not located any signs of wreckage or debris.

"What if it is not a hoax?'' said one search co-ordinator.

"But if it is they can expect to feel the full weight of the law.''


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