"The minister has always displayed tremendous compassion for their plight," he said, but added that it made no sense to halt the current inquiry.

Mr. Newhouse declined to discuss specifics of the current inquiry.

"I trust your current inquiry proceeds apace," he said with roguish cheer.

The law firm that is conducting the current inquiry refused to comment on it.

Some of the Companies It seemed plausible, however, that the 1984 accusations and the current inquiry involved the same case.

He said he had no knowledge of the current inquiries into allegations of drug dealing and other corruption.

Where the current inquiries will end is not clear.

There happens to be another current live inquiry of a Germany car manufacturer.

That is a focus of the current inquiry, he said.

No action has been taken against any of the big-name entertainment companies and theaters said to be the subject of the current inquiry.