ST BARBARA DENIED REMOVAL OF TWO EXECUTIVES, SASAKO REPLIED

Australian miner, the St Barbara Mining Company has labelled “incorrect” reports by a local newspaper which stated the company has removed two of its executives over the so-called Wale scholarship affair.

A statement from the company said the newspaper this week published an article regarding benefits provided by Allied Gold Limited to a government official, adding that Allied Gold was acquired by St Barbara in September 2012.

Referring to its quarterly report on 31 July this year, the company said as previously disclosed, it has detected the matter through operation of its internal processes and voluntarily reported the matter, in strict confidence, to relevant authorities including the Australian Federal Police (AFP), the UK Serious Fraud Office and the Solomon Islands Attorney General office.

The statement said AFP is investigating the matters reported, and St Barbara is collaborating with the AFP in its investigations.

Meanwhile, the company said it does not intend to comment further as the matters are under investigation by the AFP.

It said as previously announced on 3rd October, no St Barbara executives have been removed as a result of this investigation.

Meanwhile, Former Politician Alfred Sasako refutes a statement from the Saint Barbara Mining Company for denying reports printed in a local media which stated that the company has removed two of its executives over the so-called Wale scholarship affairs.

In an interview with SIBC News, Mr Sasako says he has hard evidence to prove that two Saint Barbara executives have been removed due to the so called Wale Scholarship.

He says the company’s denial must be substantiated.

“Their denial has no basis because I have here a copy of the letter where St Barbara has asked a legal firm in Melbourne to write a report and send it to the Australian Federal Police (AFP), the Fraud and Anti-Corruption section. The legal firm is Cause Chambers Wesgath Lawyers based in Melbourne. They have an office in Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, so I have a copy of the letter with me.”