Commission gives clerk time to file

By HELEN TARAWA
THE Royal Commission of Inquiry (COI) into the Union Bank of Switzerland (UBS) loan deal has given acting clerk of Parliament Kala Aufa another two weeks to complete filing all the necessary documents.
COI chairman Sir Salamo Injia told the inquiry yesterday that Aufa was given ample time to compile the documents which he was expected to submit as directed on May 21.
Aufa’s counsel Robin Kawat said all the documents were collated except the Hansard that needed to be rectified.
Kawat explained that 80 per cent of the information was compiled and they needed some more time to have it completed.
He said currently, with the Parliament session on, the officers responsible for Hansard were also working on transcribing the current sitting.
“We need to take into consideration that the officers who are compiling these documents are also compiling the Parliament session that is going on,” Kawat said.
“Two weeks should be ample time so that we can provide all the information for the commission.”
Sir Salamo said he would not extend any further than the two weeks.
He said given that Parliament was sitting, this would allow Kawat and Aufa to get the information compiled by then.
Aufa has been directed to return for the hearing on June 17.
Meanwhile, former State Enterprise Minister Arthur Somare presented to the inquiry the documents as directed by the commission.
Somare said his task was to assist the commission to find out more about the deal, according to the COI’s terms of reference.
He said he was there to assist the commission in what it wanted.