Mawson Requests Police Investigation Against an NGO In Finland

VANCOUVER, Aug. 24, 2015 /CNW/ - Mawson Resources Limited ("Mawson") or (the "Company") (TSX:MAW) (Frankfurt:MXR) (PINKSHEETS: MWSNF) announces that the Company has requested a police investigation to determine if certain accusations made in a recent re-appeal to the Supreme Administrative Court, by the Lapland district organization of the Finnish Association for Nature Conservation ("NGO"), constitute a criminal act under Finnish Law. 

Key points:

• On May 21, 2015, the Northern Finland Administrative Court rejected an initial appeal by the NGO against the Finnish Mining Authority ("TUKES") exploration permit decision;
• The NGO re-appealed the decision to the Supreme Administrative Court on June 18, 2015;
• Mawson's investigation request to the Rovaniemi police was made on August 24, 2015, to determine if certain accusations in the re-appeal constitute a criminal crime under Finnish Law;
• Mawson's request for the police investigation concerns certain contents of the appeal, and not the appeal process itself;
• The basis for the NGO appeal is that Mawson has undertaken deep drilling inside Natura 2000 biodiversity areas before permitting was completed. This is a false claim. Mawson has never deep drilled within Natura 2000 areas. This can easily be verified from public records.
• Since the appeal was lodged, Mawson has provided multiple opportunities for the NGO to correct their statements;
• Under Finnish Law, it is a criminal act to even attempt to wilfully mislead a court;
• These actions have no effect on Mawson advancing under its current permit conditions to drill with man-portable rigs at the Palokas gold discovery.

Mr Hudson, President & CEO states "We accept it is unusual for an exploration company to request a police investigation to review the actions of an NGO.  However, Mawson finds itself in the position where it has no other recourse but to defend itself and the rights of all its shareholders and stakeholders.  The false claims can be easily verified in the public domain.  Since the appeal was lodged, Mawson has provided multiple opportunities for the NGO to correct their statements. As these requests have been ignored, it appears the NGO's intentions are to delay Mawson's research by all means available. The police investigation request concerns certain contents of the NGO appeal, and not the appeal process itself, which is the NGO's legal right."

The specific basis for the NGO's appeal is that Mawson has drilled 90 deep drill holes over 8 kilometres inside Natura 2000 areas before final permitting has been completed.  This is a false claim.  Mawson has never deep drilled within Natura 2000 areas.  This information can easily be verified from public records. 

Mawson fully supports the involvement of the Finnish Association for Nature Conservation in its research activities, and has tried to establish goodwill via at least eight meetings over the last year, with additional monthly updates and field visits with its Lapland district organization. During these meetings, the NGO was informed multiple times of the Company's activities and specific locations of its work programs, including drilling locations.  Additionally, the drill locations can be found on Mawson's website, verified from the Finnish Mining Authority and all agreed exploration work plans are held by Finnish Environmental Authorities.  Finnish Law requires that statements to the courts must adhere to facts.

The Company has acted in good faith since the appeal was lodged, by providing the NGO the opportunity to correct their statements to the Supreme Administrative Court via two detailed communiques informing of the inaccuracies in the re-appeal. As these requests have been ignored, it appears the NGO's intentions are to delay Mawson's research by all means available. Vexatious delays by means of false claims, amongst other things, causes a direct loss of jobs for local people. 

Mawson's Finnish legal counsel advises that under Finnish Law it is a criminal act to even attempt to wilfully mislead a court.  Therefore, the actions of the NGO have forced the Company to defend itself and the rights of all its shareholders and stakeholders. Constructive co-operation with all stakeholders remains extremely important for Mawson, however, transparency and honesty needs to be demonstrated by all parties.  Mawson will now rely on the police and a court of law to determine the correct outcome.

About Mawson Resources Limited (TSX:MAW, FRANKFURT:MXR, PINKSHEETS:MWSNF)

Mawson Resources Ltd. is an exploration and development company. Mawson has distinguished itself as a leading Nordic Arctic exploration company with a focus on the flagship Rompas and Rajapalot gold projects in Finland.

On behalf of the Board,

"Michael Hudson"                   
Michael Hudson, President & CEO

Forward-Looking Statement

This news release contains forward-looking statements or forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). All statements herein, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. Although Mawson believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct.  Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: believe, expect, anticipate, intend, estimate, postulate, and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. Mawson cautions investors that any forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to, capital and other costs varying significantly from estimates, changes in world metal markets, changes in equity markets, planned drill programs and results varying from expectations, delays in obtaining results, equipment failure, unexpected geological conditions, local community relations, dealings with non-governmental organizations, delays in operations due to permit grants, environmental and safety risks, and other risks and uncertainties disclosed under the heading "Risk Factors" in Mawson's most recent Annual Information Form filed on www.sedar.com. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, Mawson disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise.

SOURCE Mawson Resources Ltd.