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Author: Raj Keresoma
Apia, Samoa – July 2, 2024 – Finance Minister Lautimuia Uelese Vaai told parliament that if all goes well, the forensic audit report is expected to be submitted to the cabinet in October.
The audit investigation was carried out by Auckland company Binder Dijker Otte (BDO), which initially focused on 13 matters out of 25 government forensic audit projects set by Cabinet.
Opposition MP Alai’asa Moefa’auo Sepulona called for an update on the audit in parliament last week, “especially if the HRPP government has stolen public funds.”
Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Matafa explained that the purpose of the forensic audit was not to find fault or blame anyone, but to provide clarity on the progress of major development projects after the change of government.
Fiame clarified that the HRPP has been in power for nearly 40 years, with the last change of government being between 1985 and 1988 when the coalition government led by Vai Kolone and Tupua was in power. The HRPP was in power from then until July 2021 when the FAST government took over.
The government then allocated S$1 million for a forensic audit and recruited an independent auditor, ultimately awarding the contract to BDO.
Finance Minister Lautimuia Uelese Vaai said there had been delays over issues such as the contract with BDO and payment schedules, but work was currently progressing well.
The first phase of the forensic audit includes:
- Ti Avia Airport Project
- National ID card gets $50 rebate
- Sheraton Apia Beachfront Hotel & Villas
- Samoa Airways Aircraft Leasing
- New prisons built in Tanumalala and Savaii
- SNPF’s new headquarters in Salelologa, Savaii
- New Electoral Office in Mulinu
- Samoa National Broadband Highway and School Network Project
- Underground cabinet network layout (MCIT)
- Sattitoa Harbor/Pier
- Nafanua patrol boat incident
- Tax Invoice Monitoring System (TIMS)
- Purchase Engineering Department Computers
- Purchase two cars from Scholastic Books for MESC
- Powering Falelatai and Samatau and using EPC funds for election campaigns in 2019-2020
- Accountability under the Civil Procedure Code for funds used by the former Prime Minister, Cabinet and the late Chief Justice
- Unforeseen and unauthorized funding under the Act
- Tender Committee
The Minister of Finance of Great Wales
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