Mongolian officials welcome lawyer's release
The Mongolian Embassy in Canberra has welcomed the news 32-year old Australian lawyer Sarah Armstrong is returning to Australia today.
Sarah Armstrong was barred from leaving Mongolia in October as authorities there probed a corruption case centred on the former chief of Mongolia's mining authority.
Ms Armstrong, a lawyer for Rio Tinto mining subsidiary SouthGobi Resources, has been cleared of any involvement in the matter.
She is expected to be reunited with friends in Sydney briefly before flying home to Tasmania later today.
Friend Luke Dean says it will be exciting to have her home.
"I'm sure she's going to be over the moon as well," he said.
"I'll give her a big hug I guess on Australian soil."
Hantulga Galaazagraa, an attaché at the Mongolian Embassy in Canberra, says the investigation has been finalised and it is great Ms Armstrong will be home for Christmas.
"It was nothing against Ms Armstrong personally; she was asked not to leave the country so that she might have useful information about the investigation," he said.
"So she was asked to cooperate with the anti-corruption agency of Mongolia.
"Ms Armstrong is on her way back home and we are very excited about it."
Mr Galaazagraa says Ms Armstrong was interviewed four to five times, with her last interview in mid-November.
He says he does not know why it has taken so long for her travel ban to be lifted.
"It was believed the SouthGobi resources company had a tax avoidance issue and also some bribery cases against the former chief of the Mongolian Mineral Resources Authority and it was nothing against Ms Armstrong."
He says the matters involving Ms Armstrong are finalised and it is a coincidence that it is Christmas.
"It's nothing strategic about it, it's just the timing just came out for Christmas. We are very delighted she'll be able to be home for Christmas."
Taking its toll
Mr Galaazagraa says the Mongolian government was separate to the independent investigation and was not able to influence the case or the timing of Ms Armstrong's return.
He has reassured foreign nationals they will be safe to do business in Mongolia following Ms Armstrong's release.
"Now the Mongolian government is giving signals to the foreign investors the Mongolian government is working against bribery and corruption, which is a good message to foreign investors."
Foreign Minister Bob Carr says he is pleased Mongolian authorities made the decision to lift Ms Armstrong's travel ban and allowed her to return home in time for Christmas.
Her mother, Yvonne Armstrong, says the saga has taken a toll on her daughter.
"A few weeks ago she was quite down with it all," she said.
"And I'm sure she only rang us when she wasn't upset, but a few weeks ago she did and that was pretty horrible.
"You realise just how hard it was on her."
Sarah Armstrong was barred from leaving Mongolia in October as authorities there probed a corruption case centred on the former chief of Mongolia's mining authority.
Ms Armstrong, a lawyer for Rio Tinto mining subsidiary SouthGobi Resources, has been cleared of any involvement in the matter.
She is expected to be reunited with friends in Sydney briefly before flying home to Tasmania later today.
Friend Luke Dean says it will be exciting to have her home.
"I'm sure she's going to be over the moon as well," he said.
"I'll give her a big hug I guess on Australian soil."
Hantulga Galaazagraa, an attaché at the Mongolian Embassy in Canberra, says the investigation has been finalised and it is great Ms Armstrong will be home for Christmas.
"It was nothing against Ms Armstrong personally; she was asked not to leave the country so that she might have useful information about the investigation," he said.
"So she was asked to cooperate with the anti-corruption agency of Mongolia.
"Ms Armstrong is on her way back home and we are very excited about it."
Mr Galaazagraa says Ms Armstrong was interviewed four to five times, with her last interview in mid-November.
He says he does not know why it has taken so long for her travel ban to be lifted.
"It was believed the SouthGobi resources company had a tax avoidance issue and also some bribery cases against the former chief of the Mongolian Mineral Resources Authority and it was nothing against Ms Armstrong."
He says the matters involving Ms Armstrong are finalised and it is a coincidence that it is Christmas.
"It's nothing strategic about it, it's just the timing just came out for Christmas. We are very delighted she'll be able to be home for Christmas."
Taking its toll
Mr Galaazagraa says the Mongolian government was separate to the independent investigation and was not able to influence the case or the timing of Ms Armstrong's return.
He has reassured foreign nationals they will be safe to do business in Mongolia following Ms Armstrong's release.
"Now the Mongolian government is giving signals to the foreign investors the Mongolian government is working against bribery and corruption, which is a good message to foreign investors."
Foreign Minister Bob Carr says he is pleased Mongolian authorities made the decision to lift Ms Armstrong's travel ban and allowed her to return home in time for Christmas.
Her mother, Yvonne Armstrong, says the saga has taken a toll on her daughter.
"A few weeks ago she was quite down with it all," she said.
"And I'm sure she only rang us when she wasn't upset, but a few weeks ago she did and that was pretty horrible.
"You realise just how hard it was on her."
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