The Last Voyage of the Pong Su

Virginia Giuffre was fearless in taking down some of the world’s most powerful people. As Jeffrey Epstein’s most prominent victim, she helped expose his crimes and hold his friends to account, including the man formerly known as Prince Andrew. But despite her heroic battle in the most notorious sex trafficking case of the 21st century, few knew about one of her toughest fights. It was one she fought privately at home in Australia.

Follow The Age and SMH Investigates to be first to listen to new episodes of Virginia from Walkley-award winning journalist Melissa Fyfe and WA Today reporter Carla Hildebrandt.

Read the Good Weekend feature or our visual story which chronicles the harrowing final months of Virginia Giuffre's life as her marriage unravelled. Visit our websites at smh.com.au, theage.com.au and watoday.com.au, and send questions, information and feedback to [email protected]

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For decades, families in Australia and overseas, have been accused of one of the worst crimes imaginable. Diagnosing Murder is an investigative podcast about parents who've had their children taken away, sat in the dock and even done time in prison. All for something they insist they didn't do – shake their baby. Can we trust the science behind shaken baby syndrome? Or are innocent people being locked up for a crime they never committed? 

Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/diagnosing-murder/id1843555473
Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3LqYqSCZHW4vtA0yhiaJKB?si=f8c56f4b638b4a24
Listen on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrLulycax358g-04ndbBaBg3ED4Dnyv0S&si=CVXIqoUI6AJ6DD5x

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40/20 is a brand new NRL podcast from The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. During this year's State of Origin and Finals series we'll be breaking down the biggest stories from across the game with the best journalists and NRL insiders from around the country. We'll be giving you press pass access as we breakdown the latest news, controversy and performances from the biggest matches in the Rugby League calendar. To listen to our episodes as soon as they drop follow 40/20 wherever you listen to podcasts.

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From The Age and Sydney Morning Herald, Trial by Water is a new investigative podcast series about Robert Farquharson, who has been locked up for decades for an unthinkable crime: murdering his three sons in a dam on Father’s Day, 2005.

Now scientists and lawyers are asking the question: did we get it wrong? And is this man in prison for a crime he didn’t commit?

Episode 1 will arrive on Saturday, June 1.

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The much anticipated fifth season of Naked City has arrived.

Make sure to subscribe now and get all the episodes straight to your device. Search Naked City wherever you get your podcasts.

John Silvester, Australia’s longest-serving crime reporter, will take you on a journey through his 40 years of dealing with the nation’s most dangerous criminals. 

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Since late 2020, the case of missing Sydney woman Melissa Caddick has captivated the country. A seemingly successful businesswoman from Sydney's eastern suburbs went missing after authorities raided her Dover Heights home amid questions over an unlicensed financial planning business.
Sydney Morning Herald investigative journalist Kate McClymont would reveal key details of a massive Ponzi scheme and a $23 million fraud that ripped off investors including her family and friends as Caddick lived the high life of overseas trips, cars and high end fashion. McClymont's coverage would win her a ninth Walkley Award.
Now McClymont and 60 Minutes’ Tom Steinfort are set to present a breakthrough podcast Liar, Liar: Melissa Caddick and the Missing Millions that will follow the twists and turns of a case where everyone has a theory of their own. What happened to the money and what happened to Melissa? Liar Liar will reveal fresh details of the crime of the century through interviews with key players and takes listeners from upmarket jewellery auction rooms in Hong Kong, to the ski slopes of Aspen to private islands in the South Pacific.

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Special bonus episode. A human source risks his life by becoming a double agent. His existence and his crucial role in helping police know which syndicate members to shadow before the Pong Su's April 2003 arrival has remained a secret until now.

The Last Voyage of the Pong Su is brought to you by the newsrooms of The Age & Sydney Morning Herald. If you’re enjoying this series, leave a review on iTunes and recommend us to a friend.

Reporter - Richard Baker (Get in touch: [email protected] )
Executive Producer - Rachael Dexter
Narrative Consultant - Kate Cole-Adams
Consulting Producer - Siobhan McHugh
Music & Composition - Vicki Hansen
Sound design & mixing - John Greenfield
Script translations - Yan Zhuang
Production assistance - Margaret Gordon
Head of Audio - Tom McKendrick

Support the show.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John Silvester, Australia’s longest-serving crime reporter, will take you on a journey through his 40 years of dealing with the nation’s most dangerous criminals. Subscribe now and get all the episodes straight to your device the minute they are published.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nicholas Martin had a very important role in the Pong Su story, but it’s one he’s never talked publicly about until now. 

Nicholas was a navy clearance diver who boarded the Pong Su with the SAS troops. After clearing the ship for improvised explosive devices, Nicholas took command of the bridge and working with one of the captured North Koreans steered the Pong Su back to Sydney Harbour.

In this interview you’ll also hear about what it’s like to skipper a navy patrol boat in Australia’s northern water at the age of 20, and what it takes to be a clearance diver. 

The Last Voyage of the Pong Su is brought to you by the newsrooms of The Age & Sydney Morning Herald. A new episode of this 10-part series drops on Tuesdays.

If you’re enjoying this series, leave a review on iTunes and recommend us to a friend.

Reporter - Richard Baker (Get in touch: [email protected] )
Executive Producer - Rachael Dexter
Narrative Consultant - Kate Cole-Adams
Consulting Producer - Siobhan McHugh
Music & Composition - Vicki Hansen
Sound design & mixing - John Greenfield
Script translations - Yan Zhuang
Production assistance - Margaret Gordon
Head of Audio - Tom McKendrick

Support the show.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In episode 5 of 'The Last Voyage of the Pong Su', we hear from Ben Pronk and Tim Curtis - two men who were part of the Special Air Service Regiment tasked with a dramatic capture of the Pong Su.

In this extended interview you’ll hear about what happened before, during and after the day of this dramatic operation - as well  as their memories of the infamous Tampa affair of 2001 and conflict overseas.

Check out Ben and Tim's own podcast 'The Unforgiving60'.

The Last Voyage of the Pong Su is brought to you by the newsrooms of The Age & Sydney Morning Herald. A new episode of this 10-part series drops on Tuesdays.

If you’re enjoying this series, leave a review on iTunes and recommend us to a friend.

Reporter - Richard Baker (Get in touch: [email protected] )
Executive Producer - Rachael Dexter
Narrative Consultant - Kate Cole-Adams
Consulting Producer - Siobhan McHugh
Music & Composition - Vicki Hansen
Sound design & mixing - John Greenfield
Script translations - Yan Zhuang
Production assistance - Margaret Gordon
Head of Audio - Tom McKendrick

Support the show.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.