Trade staff cleared

Press, 6 August 1987, Page 5

Trade staff cleared

PA Wellington The police have cleared Trade and Industry Department staff of allegations of corruptly using import licensing information but are investigating complaints of other criminal offences laid by the department.

The latest allegations also involved the use of information available to the department but were completely different to those which started the inquiry, said Detective Inspector Pat Moore yesterday.

The import licensing staff came .under scrutiny after rumours were reported that they used confidential information to secure import licences themselves, or acted on behalf of other tenderers.

A spokesman for the Minister of Trade and Industry said two members of the section had left the department. Mr Moore said staff cleared of the earlier allegations would still be considered in the present investigation. All matters were within New Zealand and did not involve money, he said. The alleged offences being complained of were uncovered during the previous investigations, Mr Moore said. The offences were criminal, he said.

He would not specify if they involved public or private sector tenders.