Police investigate missing funds in two Govt. Ministries

By Joyetter Feagaimaali’i-Luamanu 11 June 2018, 12:00AM

Two Government Ministries are being investigated by the Police for allegations of misappropriation of Government funds to the tune of $19,000. 

The ministries in question are the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (M.N.R.E.) and the Ministry of Works, Transport and Infrastructure (M.W.T.I.).

M.N.R.E. Chief Executive Officer Ulu Bismark Crawley confirmed the investigation.

While he did not confirm how much money is involved, A Government source confirmed it is more than $7,000. 

“The three employees implicated have been reassigned to other divisions of the Ministry while we await the outcome of the investigation,” Ulu said. 

“I cannot discuss the amount misappropriated in this case, given the investigation is underway by the Police.” 

Ulu also made it clear their Ministry wrote to the Ministry of Finance regarding this matter. 

“It was not uncovered by the Auditors,” he said. 

“We wrote to M.O.F. and to the Ministry of Police to confirm to investigate the matter. So for now, we wait for the result of the investigation.”

At M.W.T.I., Chief Executive Officer, Afamasaga Su’a Pou Onesemo told the Samoa Observer they had reported the matter to the Ministry of Finance.

“I can confirm the matter was reported to the Ministry of Finance who had since referred the matter over to the Ministry of Police for investigation,” he said. 

“I can also confirm the amount is around $12,000 of misappropriated funds.”

He added that the cheques worth $90,000 have been recovered and have already been deposited.  

“Rest assured the cheques have already been found and banked and my Finance Manager can attest to that. 

“The fund that’s been misappropriated is more than $12,000 and now the matter is with the Police, we cannot comment any further.”

Repeated efforts to get comments from the Police on the said cases have been unsuccessful as of press time.

By Joyetter Feagaimaali’i-Luamanu 11 June 2018, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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