700 claims were made by lawyers against the state and approved by the solicitor general and the finance secretary without being tested in court.
[26] Following the revelation of the scam, a Commission of Inquiry was established by former Prime Minister of PNG Sir Michael Somare.
The Commission, led by Justices Maurice Sheehan, Cathy Davani and Don Manoa, was tasked with investigating the claims, establishing their legitimacy, the amounts illegally paid and to establish the roles of the solicitor general and the minister of finance, amongst other civil servants.
[29] At its tabling in Parliament, Somare commented that "people who read it, would shudder in awe" at the level of corruption in the finance department.
"[26] The report made 75 recommendations, including referring the matter to the police and the Ombudsman Commission for further investigation.
No charges have been laid against the individuals named in the report and although Gabriel Yer was dismissed in mid-2011, he was reinstated to the position of finance secretary in December 2011.