LBMA has undertaken extensive preparation for the upcoming legal proceedings relating to alleged events at the North Mara mine.
The pre-trial review (PTR) held on 17 July sought to address procedural and logistical challenges ahead of the trial scheduled for October. As a procedural hearing, the PTR did not address the merits of the case and therefore did not indicate what to expect during the trial. However, it confirmed that both parties remain on track to proceed with the trial later this year.
LBMA welcomes the progress made in court and the acknowledgement by claimants' counsel of the cooperation displayed by the defence in seeking to resolve outstanding pre-trial issues. LBMA is confident that it has acted appropriately and in accordance with its rules and looks forward to defending itself at trial in October.
LBMA does not accept that it is legally responsible for the tragic fatalities. LBMA’s role is to advance standards and promote good trading practices for financial institutions ( i.e. banks and traders), gold and silver refiners, transporters and others operating in the global precious metals industry. That role, and the responsibilities that come with it, has been fundamentally misconstrued by the claimants in these proceedings.