Police says it’s awaiting referral from OAG before ESP report can be investigated
BY INDY MAEALASIA
Police is waiting for any referral from the Office of the Auditor General (OAG) before any investigation can begin, it is reported.
The OAG has told Island Sun it will be meeting with police soon to discuss its report’s findings.
This statement by police comes amid loud calls from the Leader of Opposition Matthew Wale, Transparency Solomon Islands (TSI), Solomon Islands Council of Trade Union (SICTU), Institute of Solomon Islands Accounting (ISIA) and public for government and relevant authorities to act on the OAG report of the economic stimulus package (ESP) 2020-2021.
Chair of parliament’s public accounts committee Gordon Darcy Lilo, MP for Central Honiara, earlier this week told media that he intends on initiating a full hearing into the OAG’s ESP report.
Auditor General David Dennis responding to Island Sun enquiry yesterday explained that the OAG and police have a MOU of cooperation which provides a direct channel for dialogue.
“We do have a MOU with Police which sets out a framework for cooperation including referrals, training and sharing of information.
“We will be meeting with the Police to discuss our recent audit findings including areas highlighted in our published report which requires further investigation,” Auditor General Dennis said.
Police Commissioner Mostyn Mangau in a statement yesterday said the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) and the OAG had signed the memorandum of understanding (MOU) on May 19 last year, which “sets out areas of cooperation including manners of referrals, follow ups, sharing of information and sharing of resources [with] the Auditor-General”.
Mangau reiterated that the “MoU provides a simple framework for both offices to collaborate in addressing areas that require further investigation”.
“The MoU formalises a process for the OAG to refer to the RSIPF any matters found in audits and other work which may indicate corruption, crime or misconduct.
“MoU also provides for the OAG to pass on any information it has regarding those matters that may assist the RSIPF in any investigation of interest to them.
“This process includes measures to ensure confidentiality and a process where a clear trail of the information being passed to the RSIPF is maintained.
“While I appreciate the call from leader of opposition, Hon Mathew Wale and our people for immediate investigation into the ESP audit report.
“Such referrals sometimes take time before reaching my office but we wait for the report to reach us then investigation commences,” Mangau said.
The OAG released the report on its audit of the ESP on Wednesday last week. The audit covered the ESP from 2020-2021.
The report’s findings revealed ‘major fraud risk, poor to non-existent administrative controls and almost zero transparency in the disbursement of $309 million in government funds’, an OAG statement this week described.
