Add Category
Updated
Clive Palmer says his nephew Clive Mensink is still being paid more than $4,000 per week by his companies, while the subject of two arrest warrants.
The Federal Court issued the arrest warrants for Mr Mensink in March, after he failed to show up to answer questions about the collapse of Queensland Nickel.
Mr Palmer is giving evidence before the Queensland Supreme Court as part of a two-day hearing where liquidators are trying to freeze his assets.
He told the court in May he was not aware of any payments to Mr Mensink, but on Friday testified he was "heavily sedated at the time".
"That would be a precise figure that he's entitled to," Mr Palmer said of the more than $200,000 wage.
"He'd be paid for three years [after his contract ended], he was entitled to receive his salary.
"I recall being aware of it, I was aware he was being paid his salary and would continue to be paid."
When asked if he was responsible for the change of payment from Queensland Nickel Sales to Mineralogy, Mr Palmer said it did not matter what company the money came from.
"It all comes from me," he said.
"I'm the only source of cash."
Barrister Shane Doyle QC, acting for the liquidators, then asked if he was aware of the change.
"I personally wasn't," Mr Palmer responded.
"But I agreed he should be paid, and continue to be paid three years after his termination."
Mr Doyle also asked Mr Palmer whether Mr Mensink still worked for some of his companies.
Mr Palmer responded he was not sure.
Queensland Nickel collapsed last January with $300 million in debt and more than 800 people lost their jobs.
The taxpayer-funded liquidators have made the application to freeze Mr Palmer's assets amid a $500 million court case to claw back debts to creditors and sacked workers.
Topics: clive-palmer, courts-and-trials, company-news, brisbane-4000, cairns-4870, qld
First posted