When the boat comes in!

Independent investigators called in to scrutinize evidence of illegal assaults performed by naval cadets whilst 'hazing' new recruits, have been temporarily thwarted by the absence of the alleged miscreants in a ship at sea on 'border control duty'.

I wonder why this inquisition was put in train when someone in 'Defence' must surely have known the suspects were on overseas duty? Or, is it just another example of the mess that department is dealing (or, maybe not dealing) with?