Alinghi Rejects MP's Claims
Alinghi Rejects MP's Claims
AUCKLAND - February 26, 2003 - A claim made in Parliament by New Zealand opposition politician Winston Peters that threatening letters sent to team members in December had originated from within the Alinghi team was unfortunate and based entirely on recycling anonymous rumours, Alinghi Executive Director Michel Bonnefous said today.
"Mr Peters' claim appears to be
based on an anonymous rumour circulating in the viaduct
basin", Michel Bonnefous said. "The New Zealand Minister of
Police has rejected what Mr Peters said, and police involved
in the inquiry have also told us there is no evidence to
substantiate this rumour."
"Mr Peters is a supporter of the Blackheart group. It is disappointing that he is spreading unfounded and damaging claims", Bonnefous said.
"On the advice of our security advisors and of
police we took the threats seriously, and we made
appropriate arrangements so that our team could continue to
focus on the action on the water."