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Clive Mensink’s lawyer tells court they’ve never actually spoken

A LAWYER representing former Queensland Nickel director Clive Mensink has told a Queensland court the pair have never actually spoken, and that Mr Mensink’s uncle, Clive Palmer, was their “conduit”.

THE lawyer acting for Clive Palmer’s fugitive nephew, Clive Mensink, has revealed he has never spoken to the man while representing him in court proceedings for almost two years.

Mr Mensink and Mr Palmer’s lawyer Sam Iskander is today being grilled by lawyers for Queensland Nickel’s liquidators in a public examination hearing designed to pin-down the whereabouts of Mr Mensink.

Sam Iskander pictured with Clive Palmer outside the Federal Court in Brisbane last year. Picture: Dan Peled/AAP
Sam Iskander pictured with Clive Palmer outside the Federal Court in Brisbane last year. Picture: Dan Peled/AAP

Mr Mensink, who was the sole registered director of the refinery when it collapsed in 2016, left Australia months after the company’s collapse had has been living the high-life on the run since.

He has refused to return to Australia for questioning despite several warrants being issued.

Under cross-examination by barrister Tom Sullivan QC, who is acting for special purpose liquidators PPB Advisory, Mr Iskander told the court he had “never” directly communicated with Mr Mensink.

“Can you identify when was he last time you spoke to Mr Clive Mensink?” Mr Sullivan asked.

“I can’t identify that,” Mr Iskander replied.

Clive Mensink is still paid a salary by Mr Palmer’s flagship company Mineralogy. Picture: AAP/Dave Hunt
Clive Mensink is still paid a salary by Mr Palmer’s flagship company Mineralogy. Picture: AAP/Dave Hunt

He added he had never spoken with the man or received any direct communications from him during the time has been acting as his solicitor.

The court heard Mr Palmer had been “conduit” between Mr Iskander and Mr Mensink since the solicitor started acting for the company director in November 2016.

“My understanding was that Mr Palmer was the main conduit of instructions and he had the authority to act on his (Mr Mensink) behalf and so therefore I would follow those instructions … as I was not receiving instructions from anyone else,” he said.

“My understanding was that he (Mr Palmer) had communications at that time with Mr Mensink and that he was instructing me on behalf of Mr Mensink.

“I requested written authorities and I was instructed they were coming and … I acted on good faith because I felt I had an obligation.”

Signed authorities were later provided, the court heard.

Mr Iskander said he could not remember if he was able to contact Mr Mensink on a telephone number given to him by Mr Palmer.

“If I did, I couldn’t get through because I’ve never been able to speak to my client,” Mr Iskander told the court.

He also said he did not email Mr Mensink because he was concerned about the security of the address.

“I was told he will only communicate with certain people,” Mr Iskander said.

The solicitor said he had been told Mr Palmer’s brother-in-law, George Sokolov, met Mr Mensink in Bulgaria sometime after Easter last year.

Mr Iskander told the court the only time he heard about Mr Mensink’s whereabouts was when he received an affidavit signed by the company director, sometime around February last year.

“Are you aware Mr Sokolov has met with Clive Mensink in that period in Bulgaria,” Mr Sullivan said.

“I understand he has … that’s what I’ve been told … by Mr Sokolov,” Mr Iskander said.

“He didn’t say much, just that he met with him.”

Mr Iskander later told the court: “To the best of my recollection, he (George Sokolov) went to Bulgaria around that time … it was all very vague and he met with his father (Alex Sokolov) and his father was able to lead him to Mr Mensink and that’s how he came about this letter which he brought back with him.

“I said: ‘Do you have contact directly with him?’ and he (George Sokolov) said: ‘I have to go through my father’ and they have some friend over there, who would be able to lead him to Mr Mensink … it kind of … sounds very convoluted …

“I thought it was obscure, I didn’t understand why all the fuss.”

The solicitor said when he asked Mr Mensink’s staff how he could contact the director, they did not know.

“My recollection was I got blank looks,” Mr Iskander told the court.

The hearing continues.

In a statement to the media today, Mr Palmer blasted liquidators for continuing to pursue his nephew.

“They are continuing their public examinations of Clive Mensink’s solicitor Mr Sam Iskander even though every Australian has the right to legal representation,” the businessman and former federal MP said.

Ryan Mensink has previously testified his father is unlikely to return to Australia because he “is probably having too much fun” overseas. Picture: AAP/Jono Searle
Ryan Mensink has previously testified his father is unlikely to return to Australia because he “is probably having too much fun” overseas. Picture: AAP/Jono Searle

“They will for a second time examine Mr Mensink’s son, Ryan, in an attempt to intimidate and seek retribution.”

Ryan Mensink has previously testified his father is unlikely to return to Australia because he “is probably having too much fun” overseas.

Mr Mensink is still paid a salary by Mr Palmer’s flagship company Mineralogy, and receives rental payments for properties in Brisbane’s north and the Gold Coast.

The arrest warrant issued for Mr Mensink, and another for contempt of court, are essentially unenforceable unless he returns to Australia.

— additional reporting by Sonia Kohlbacher, AAP

Original URL: https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/clive-mensinks-lawyer-tells-court-theyve-never-actually-spoken/news-story/75902f076ea16290f102f254c6068e0f