BY JOHN HOUANIHAU
The Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) National Criminal Investigation Department (NCID) is continuing its investigation into the published 2020-2021 COVID-19 Economic Stimulus Package (ESP) audit report.
In 2020, the Democratic Coalition Government for Advancement (DCGA) allocated $309 million under the Economic Stimulus Package (ESP) to revitalise the economy during the pandemic.
However, the published 2020-2021 COVID-19 (ESP) Auditor General’s audit report indicated major fraud risks in how it was handled. The report found that 3 government officials signed off on many payments, one of them cleared 251 cheques totalling $ 6.8 million and over 2,000 grant payments, but only 200 applications could be found for review by the OAG.
Speaking to local media during a press conference Friday last week, ahead of this week’s Motion of No Confidence, Police Commissioner Mostyn Mangau said that the Police have received the ESP referral and their investigation team continues to work on the matter.
“At this point, there are several statements taken, and also people are being invited for examination and questioning. So once the matters of course have finished, they will provide it to my office,’’ said Commissioner Mangau.
He said that while people have been questioned, there is no formal charges have been laid to date.
“At the moment, there is no one being charged yet, but people are being pulled in for questioning. I did not get updated on how many people have been pulled in, as long as they prepare a report, I will provide an update on that,’’ he said.
He also said that the police are working around the clock to find a lead as the investigation continues.
“The questioning I’m referring to is to find a lead. The transaction, like any investigation, leads from point one to three, before we find the person responsible. Hopefully, by the time this month, we should get several updates on that investigation,’’ he told the media.
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