Commission of inquiry adjourned

National

THE Commission of Inquiry into the Union Bank of Switzerland (UBS) K3 billion loan by the Government in 2014 has been adjourned to consider a request to extend the inquiry period.
The request was made by counsel Dr James Renwick to Chief Commissioners Sir Salamo Injia and Margaret White.
Dr Renwick said in the past 47 days of public hearings, the commission had conducted a thorough investigation in accordance with the terms of reference.
He said counsels assisting and international solicitors assisting received 17,000 documents, engaged with 141 witnesses, conducted interviews with key witnesses and taken evidence from others.
“Although the reference require the commission to render its final report (to the) prime minister within three months of the date of the commencement of the hearings, it won’t be feasible to report by Sept 30 this year as we (had) hoped,” Dr Renwick said.
He added that the commission had been “frustrated and delayed in its work by a number of matters”.
Dr Renwick said the matters included an incomplete production of documents and information by UBS Australia and the production of about 4,000 documents by Norton Rose Fulbright Australia among others.