By Lynford Simpson, Parliamentary ReporterSIXTEEN OFFICERS of the Ministry of Commerce, Science and Technology have each been slapped with a $20,000 surcharge for negligence following the disappearance of more than $3 million from the Ministry between September 1998 and July 2001.
The Police Fraud Squad is investigating the matter to determine whether criminal charges should be laid against any of those implicated in the scam.
MASTERMIND
Parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) was told yesterday that two of the 16 have since resigned from the civil service while one has been on leave and is due to return to work next month. One of those who resigned is the alleged mastermind. He has reportedly fled the country.
The Jamaica Civil Service Association (JCSA) has intervened on behalf of one of the officers and a hearing has been granted by the Ministry of Finance and Planning.
The money will be deducted from the employees' salary over 20 months at $1,000 per month.
Yesterday, PAC members expressed concern at the fact that those implicated were still on the job, despite what they charge was a "clear case of fraud".
"I'm very uncomfortable about what is happening here. Something is fundamentally wrong where so many persons could be involved in obvious fraud over a particular time ... and not brought to book," PAC member Derrick Smith said. He questioned whether any action had been taken against the person in charge.
According to Jamaica Labour Party M.P. Delroy Chuck, the involvement of the Fraud Squad should give a clear indication as to those persons who should be suspended while the investigations continue.
He warned that with the frequency such incidents take place, and people being allowed to remain on the job, there was the "opportunity for cover-up".
"Unless wrongdoers are brought before the courts, it is going to continue," he stated.
Said Dr. Patrick Harris, People's National Party M.P.: "I think we need to send a message to people handling public funds. If a person misuses or misappropriates public funds, I think they should go to where other people go when they do such acts. It needs to be done swiftly."
The members were not amused at the disclosure by Bradley Gunter, the principal accounting officer in the Ministry, that the four persons responsible for signing cheques were also still on the job.
Dr. Jean Dixon, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, told the PAC that the irregularities arose because of "weaknesses in the system".
PURCHASES
She said purchases were made for stationery and other supplies for the Ministry but were never delivered. "In fact one company to which cheques were made payable was a fictitous company," she said.
Auditor-General Adrian Strachan, in his report prepared for the PAC, said suspected irregularities involving $3.184 million were uncovered. "These appeared due to a breakdown in the system of control over the procurement of office supplies as well as collusion and/or negligence on the part of officers," he said.
