THIRTEEN foreigners, including three Australians, who had been working on unravelling Brunei’s worst financial scandal were prevented from leaving the tiny South-East Asian country at the weekend.

One, a Brisbane man, was reportedly given permission late last night by Brunei immigration officials to leave.

Earlier, the man had been accompanied to Brunei’s international airport by officials from the Australian high commission but was at first refused permission to leave.

A Foreign Affairs spokeswoman in Canberra said last night that the department would make further inquiries and liaise with Brunei officials today in an attempt to clarify the situation. Consular officials will also be trying to contact the other Australians — a couple — who are believed to have been prevented from leaving.

British papers report that the group of 13 were consultants to Global Evergreen, a company set up by the Brunei Government to deal with problems caused by the collapse of the Amedeo Group, which belonged to the younger brother of the Sultan of Brunei.

Reports from London say the British Foreign Office is investigating reports the 13 were caught up in a financial feud over the alleged embezzlement of more than $28 million.

The employees were said to believe they were being held because their investigations to trace the missing money had upset Brunei’s Home Affairs Minister, Pehin Isa.

A Foreign Affairs spokeswoman said officials would be trying to clarify the issues today. She said the Australian couple involved would be offered consular assistance.

Four Britons, three Australians, New Zealanders and at least one Malaysian were all believed to be amongst those barred from leaving Brunei.