Plea from parents of detained lawyer
THE parents of a lawyer, Sarah Armstrong, detained in Mongolia after being caught up in a corruption investigation just want their daughter back.
On Friday, authorities stopped Ms Armstrong, 32, pictured, boarding a flight to Hong Kong, where she is based, to seek her help over a case involving allegations of money laundering and corruption. The claims reportedly relate to senior local officials and hundreds of millions of dollars in mining assets.
Yvonne and Les Armstrong spoke of their anguish from their home in Rosebery, Tasmania, yesterday. ''I just want her to get out safely,'' Mrs Armstrong said.
She said she was talking to her daughter every day and that she was in reasonably good spirits, considering the circumstances.
The last time the couple saw their daughter was on September 20, when she made a surprise visit home for her mother's birthday.
Mrs Armstrong had received a call from the Foreign Affairs Department. ''They are doing what they can to support her,'' she said.
Mongolian authorities were expected to interview Ms Armstrong - who is the chief legal counsel for SouthGobi Resources, which is majority-owned by Rio Tinto - again yesterday.
The Foreign Affairs Minister, Bob Carr, said the Australian Consul-General to Mongolia, David Lawson, would accompany Ms Armstrong to the second round of questioning.
He said he had not been advised about any allegations against Ms Armstrong, but it was a complex matter between the company she works for, the resources authority of Mongolia and its anti-corruption authority.
A Sydney friend of Ms Armstrong, Luke Dean, said she sounded stressed but strong in phone calls since Friday. ''She hasn't broken down on the phone to me yet, but I can tell in her voice that it is quite straining. I think this is the worst it's ever been.
''She's not detained by the anti-corruption police, but she's certainly been told that she can't leave the country.''
Mr Dean said Ms Armstrong's family had been coping well, but the situation was starting to take its toll and they hoped for a resolution soon.
''In the initial round [of questioning], I think she was advised she might not be home before Christmas.''
with Burnie Advocate, AAP
and Nicole Hasham
On Friday, authorities stopped Ms Armstrong, 32, pictured, boarding a flight to Hong Kong, where she is based, to seek her help over a case involving allegations of money laundering and corruption. The claims reportedly relate to senior local officials and hundreds of millions of dollars in mining assets.
Yvonne and Les Armstrong spoke of their anguish from their home in Rosebery, Tasmania, yesterday. ''I just want her to get out safely,'' Mrs Armstrong said.
She said she was talking to her daughter every day and that she was in reasonably good spirits, considering the circumstances.
The last time the couple saw their daughter was on September 20, when she made a surprise visit home for her mother's birthday.
Mrs Armstrong had received a call from the Foreign Affairs Department. ''They are doing what they can to support her,'' she said.
Mongolian authorities were expected to interview Ms Armstrong - who is the chief legal counsel for SouthGobi Resources, which is majority-owned by Rio Tinto - again yesterday.
The Foreign Affairs Minister, Bob Carr, said the Australian Consul-General to Mongolia, David Lawson, would accompany Ms Armstrong to the second round of questioning.
He said he had not been advised about any allegations against Ms Armstrong, but it was a complex matter between the company she works for, the resources authority of Mongolia and its anti-corruption authority.
A Sydney friend of Ms Armstrong, Luke Dean, said she sounded stressed but strong in phone calls since Friday. ''She hasn't broken down on the phone to me yet, but I can tell in her voice that it is quite straining. I think this is the worst it's ever been.
''She's not detained by the anti-corruption police, but she's certainly been told that she can't leave the country.''
Mr Dean said Ms Armstrong's family had been coping well, but the situation was starting to take its toll and they hoped for a resolution soon.
''In the initial round [of questioning], I think she was advised she might not be home before Christmas.''
with Burnie Advocate, AAP
and Nicole Hasham
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