AWB's international trading manager has admitted that the wheat exporter gave only limited cooperation to the United Nations (UN) oil-for-food inquiry.
Michael Long negotiated the payment of a 10 per cent surcharge demanded by the former Iraqi regime but denied knowledge of its existence to UN investigators.
Mr Long says he has a vivid recollection of meeting the Iraqi Trade Minister in 2002.
Mohammed Mehdi Saleh was intimidating in full military dress and was armed.
Seventeen posters of Saddam Hussein stared down at him.
However, Mr Long's vivid recollection does not extend to discussions about 10 per cent of value of wheat exports being added to inland transport costs.
Mr Long says he rationalised the strange calculation as not an unreasonable amount to pay to Alia Trucking.
He admits drawing a link between the surcharge and the Iraqi Grains Board the following year, but told a UN inquiry two years later he knew nothing about service fees.
Meanwhile, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has this afternoon applied to be represented at the inquiry.
ABC Online.
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