Commission calls Treasury secretary as witness

By HELEN TARAWA
TREASURY secretary Dairi Vele will appear before the Commission of Inquiry (COI) into the Union Bank of Switzerland (UBS) loan deal today.
COI chairman Sir Salamo Injia told the inquiry that Vele confirmed his attendance.
Vele was among witnesses invited to appear before the commission but was represented by a junior lawyer on Monday when the hearing resumed after adjournment last month.
The commission directed the Department of Treasury to provide all documentations and a list of witnesses relating to the loan.
According to the lawyer representing Vele from Twivey Lawyers, Rose Kelly, they were given only a week’s notice and staff responsible had gone on holidays, resulting in non-compliance of the directive.
Vele is expected to explain why the directions were not complied with and steps being taken to remedy that.
Bank of PNG governor Loi Bakani and National Research director Dr Osborne Sanida will also appear before the commission today.
The COI was established by the Government following the tabling of the Ombudsman Commission report into the UBS loan in Parliament.
The objective of the COI was to establish the facts surrounding the decision by the Government to obtain the loan totalling K3 billion from Union Bank of Switzerland and whether constitutional requirements were breached.
Meanwhile, former PNG Ambassador to Australia Sir Charles Lepani was given notice to appear before the commission yesterday and was summoned to attend on Feb 28.
Another witness, Prof Tim Beasley from the UK, has been scheduled on April 16 for his appearance by video link.
His involvement is in the area of academic as an expert in political economic efforts.
He will provide background information to the commission on private business investment.
The COI briefly started yesterday day and was expected to continue with issuing of notices to witnesses.
The hearing proper will resume on Feb 28.