The Auditor-General has found $10,340 missing in a case where two staff members of the Ministry of Civil Service prepared a cash cheque of $13,660 without the approval of the permanent secretary or the director major events.
The cheque was or the payment of the volunteers’ allowances during the hosting of the 52nd Asian Development Bank Conference in Nadi in 2019.
The audit found that the administrative officer events and admin officer health had arrived at the meeting venue with cash amounting to $13,660.
“The former PS – Civil Service instructed AO – events and admin officer – health on 04/05/19 that the funds be deposited back in the consolidated fund account and that no cash payment of allowance to be made,” states the OAG report.
“Our examination noted that out of the $13,660, a sum $3320 was receipted back into the consolidated fund account on 17/05/19 via receipt number 592528 being the balance of fund for ADB meal allowance returned. The balance of $10,340 could not be accounted for. The responsibility for recruiting and managing the volunteers engaged for the event was vested on the Professional Conference Organiser (PCO). We noted that a sum of $119,731.50 was paid to various companies catering for the meals and refreshments for the volunteers.”
