Chairman defers hearings due to lockdown

CHAIRMAN of the Commission of Inquiry (COI) into the Union Bank of Switzerland loan Sir Salamo Injia has directed that all hearings be deferred to Aug 24, due to the 14-day lockdown announced by the Government.
Sir Salamo made the decision yesterday after the Government announced the lockdown for the National Capital District and Central following a surge in the Covid-19 cases in Port Moresby.
COI secretary Mathew Yuangu told The National that the hearings scheduled for this week were deferred to next month.
Yuangu said they would be held at Apec Haus but much would depend on situation with the Covid-19 pandemic.
“A big crowd is expected to attend the hearing and the Apec Haus is a suitable place as it has lots of rooms and enough space to cater for numbers,” he said.
Meanwhile, Parliament acting clerk Kala Aufa said during the first lockdown, Parliament was operating on skeleton staff.
“With less staffing, it’s easier to organise pick-up and drop-off,” he said.