Auditor General’s report reveals fraud risks and poor transparency in ESP funds, says Kouni
BY JOHN HOUANIHAU
The Director General of the Solomon Islands Independent Commission Against Corruption (SIICAC), John Kouni, will meet with the Office of the Auditor General (OAG) this week to discuss the findings of the Economic Stimulus Package (ESP) audit report.
SIICAC treated the revelations in the ESP Audit Report as shocking and confirmed that it will conduct an investigation based on the findings of the report.
In an exclusive interview with Island Sun yesterday, Director General Kouni stated, “The report by the Office of the Auditor General’s revealed major fraud and corruption risks, poor administrative controls, and a lack of transparency in the administration and disbursement of ESP funds.”
“We at SIICAC are taking the ESP report and its recommendations seriously and will be taking steps to address it as a matter of urgency. We are prepared to carry out a full investigation under Part 4 of the Anti-Corruption Act 2018, jointly with the RSIPF, the Office of the Auditor-General, the Office of the Ombudsman, the Leadership Code Commission, the IRC, the Financial Intelligence Unit of the Central Bank of Solomon Islands, and other entities listed under Section 91 of the Penal Code, as amended,” said Kouni.
Kouni mentioned that SIICAC has liaised with the Office of the Auditor General (OAG). “I already have a copy of the audit report and am currently reviewing it. I will meet with the Auditor General David Dennis this week to discuss the issues highlighted in the report and will proceed from there,” he stated.
“In terms of conducting the investigation, there are no two ways about it. As soon as we assess the report, we will call upon other integrity, accountability, and enforcement institutions for a joint investigation,” Kouni added.
“I assure the public that an investigation will be conducted, and the best way forward is to have a joint investigation involving all stakeholder government agencies, allowing us to conclude it within a reasonable timeframe,” he said.
Regarding the relationship between the Auditor General’s Office and SIICAC,Kouni confirmed that the Anti-Corruption Act 2018 provides a collaborative framework that allows the two agencies to work together on corruption investigations. Furthermore, SIICAC has already signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with OAG for effective engagement in their shared effort to combat corruption in the country.
“There is already a collaborative arrangement in the form of an MOU that allows our two institutions to work together. As soon as we finalize the necessary administrative processes, including inter-agency dialogue, we will assemble a team to begin the investigation,” Kouni explained.
In addition to the corruption investigation, Kouni confirmed that the weaknesses in procedures and administrative controls identified in the audit report will also be addressed. Where appropriate, SIICAC will propose policy and legal reforms to strengthen the current system.
In the meantime, Kouni expressed his gratitude to the Auditor General and his team for their commendable work in producing the report. “I understand the challenges and constraints they faced during the audit, but I am grateful they successfully overcame those obstacles to deliver the report,” said Kouni.
