A spokesman for IBM Asia Pacific talking to media out of Tokyo has announced that IBM is going to cease development of the delay plagued INCIS, $130 million plus, police computer project.

Speaking to Radio New Zealand's checkpoint the spokesman said the police and government had made repeated changes to the specifications of the INCIS. These had led to the delays and cost increases.

He said IBM is owed a significant amount of money. "IBM will make no profit from the project," he said.

Asked whether IBM would attempt to recover any money from the police the spokesman replied, "we are not going to discuss options that are available to us at this time."

"We have had discussions with government and the police over a number of options", the spokesman said.

Asked what the response of the government has been today the spokesman replied, "today, I simply don't know the response."

The Minister of Finance Sir William Birch is holding a press conference on the IBM announcement at present.

INCIS has been plagued by delays over the past two years and at one point IBM gave an assurance to then Treasurer Winston Peters that it would "darken the skies" with commuting software designers to finish the project off.

(continuing…)

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