Publication of Ansbacher report to be delayed

Publication of the Ansbacher report will be delayed due to the work involved in the printing of the 10,000-page document.

The report - originally due to be published next Tuesday - identifies some 200 individuals and companies with accounts in Ansbacher (Cayman) Ltd.

I expect the delay in publication to be no more than a week Director of Corporate Enforcement, Mr Paul Appleby

The Director of Corporate Enforcement this afternoon reported to the High Court that publication would have to be delayed for a number days.

Mr Paul Appleby has issued the following statement following an appearance made by Counsel on his behalf before Mr Justice Joseph Finnegan, the President of the High Court:

"Counsel on my behalf informed the President of the High Court this afternoon that publication of the High Court Inspectors’ Report into Ansbacher (Cayman) Ltd. would not be possible on Tuesday next as originally stipulated by him.

"I shall advise the President on Monday next of the position at that time and hopefully indicate to him when precisely the report can be published," he said.

In the High Court last Monday, it was announced that the report would be made available to the public next Tuesday. Following this, Mr Appleby’s staff arranged for the printing and transfer of the Report.

A number of technical issues came to light in a minority of the 200 files in question. "All of these issues have been successfully addressed to date, but the process of examining and checking the files and resolving the associated technical issues is taking time," said Mr Appleby.

All of the examining and checking work must be successfully completed before the reproduction of the report in hard copy and CD-Rom formats can start.

"It is unfortunate that a postponement of the original date of publication set by the High Court is required," said Mr Appleby. "However at last Monday’s hearing, Mr Justice Finnegan had acknowledged that this was a possibility and gave me liberty to seek an alternative publication date if necessary. I plan to do so next Monday."

The High Court was told this afternoon that the publication of the report is a mammoth task. The court was told that this is the largest printing job ever undertaken by the printers, who have been engaged by the Government Supplies Agency, in such a tight timeframe.

Secondly, the printed report will run to about 10,000 pages, will be in about fifteen volumes, will stand nearly a metre high and will weigh about 25 kg.

Mr Appleby said he is hopeful that the full report can be transposed on to one CD.

"I appreciate that the public will be disappointed by this delay, and I would ask for their patience while the printers, assisted by my staff in particular and the Inspectors’ Secretariat as necessary, work through the various issues arising.

"The High Court Inspectors’ work has now been successfully completed, and I expect the delay in publication to be no more than a week. Everything possible is being done by my staff and the printers to minimise this period," said Mr Appleby.