Aussie law firm to assist UBS inquiry

By HELEN TARAWA
AN Australian law firm has been contracted to assist the Commission of Inquiry (COI) into the Union Bank of Switzerland (UBS) loan.
COI chairman Sir Salamo Injia told the inquiry that Minter Ellison Solicitors signed the contract after it had taken six months for this process to take place.
The contract was signed by Governor-General Sir Bob Dadae and Minter Ellison Solicitors, represented by Michael Sullivan from Leahy Lewin Lowing and Sullivan Lawyers.
Sir Salamo said the contact, valued at K18 million, would cater for the provision of seven lawyers and other technical personnel who would support the commission and the three overseas counsellors assisting the commission.
He said Minter Ellison Solicitors and partners Leahy Lewin Lowing Sullivan Lawyers were currently attending to securing the admission of seven solicitors and three counsellors from Australia to proceed as lawyers in PNG.
Sir Salamo said over 10 overseas counsellors were expected to be assisting the commission.
He said on July 6, the commission would announce the revised road map that would set out the timelines for the three phases of the inquiry.
“The first phase is serving the necessary documents with summons and directions,” he said