PM: Inquiry to cover all involved

By HELEN TARAWA
PRIME Minister James Marape says the Commission of Inquiry (COI) into the Union Bank of Switzerland (UBS) opens an ambit of investigation beyond the leadership and everyone who had a hand in the transaction.
“It is fitting that the inquiry into the K3 billion that belongs to the people of this country covers the entire UBS transaction,” he said.
“We need to ascertain the entire length and depth and to ascertain whether any act of impropriety is in it.
“At the moment let’s allow the inquiry to do its job and that’s why I’m here to submit and respect the inquiry,” he said.
Marape, in response to questions about the funding, said it was in the interest of the COI that they had the finances available to do a job of the highest standard.
He said chairman Sir Salamo Injia had ensured that he procured the services of some of the best known commissioners and counsels to assist the inquiry.
“One or two of the commissioners were former high court judges in Australia who have critical savvy and knowledge in forensic accounting and investigation of this nature,” Marape said.
“We will ensure that funding is given to them until the full course of the investigation is completed.
“I give my commitment to the nation that the inquiry’s final conclusions will be tabled in Parliament and further restitutions will take cause if need be.
“As the inquiry is going on, police haven’t been stopped and the inquiry doesn’t stop police and Ombudsman Commission from running files for those of us who have been mentioned,” Marape said.
He said many people had questioned him that K27 million was too high for the inquiry, “but no money is too high for justice to be secured if wrong was done,” adding that all money used by the COI would be acquitted.