Auditor turns to mine clearing

A MANCHESTER accountant auditing the books of the Mines Advisory Group (MAG) detonated four explosives during a trip to the charity’s office in Laos.

Nonie Freeman, an audit manager at accountancy firm Horwath Clark Whitehill, travelled to the country as part of MAG’s annual audit. 

She spent three days at its offices before visiting a minefield where she was involved in the detonation of four landmines. Ms Freeman also visited a school and a hospital built on land cleared by MAG. 

She said: “My experience in Laos was breathtaking and certainly a break from my normal audit duties. The trip not only helped me to see what MAG does on a daily basis, but truly understand the impact the charity has on people’s lives.”

Laos is the most heavily bombed nation in the world per capita. At least two million tonnes of ordnance was dropped on the country between 1964 and 1973. It is estimated that up to 30% of this did not detonate.

Manchester-based MAG clears mines and other remnants of conflict in countries around the world.