-outside help to be sought, AG says
Acting Auditor General Deodat Sharma has confirmed that a forensic audit into the assets of employees at the Customs and Trade Administration (CTA) is underway, as the probe into allegations of corruption there deepens.
No timeline has been attached to the probe since it could take time, Sharma said yesterday. He emphasized the need for a careful review of the assets of employee attached to CTA, while pointing out that outside help would be required.
The process in itself needs to be thorough, Sharma said, noting that President Bharrat Jagdeo would expect nothing less. Sharma’s disclosure about the asset review comes in the wake of concerns raised by the President a short while ago on the scope of recent investigation conducted by a task force, which the Auditor General headed.
Jagdeo had raised the issue of the task force failing to investigate the assets of CTA employees, adding that when people cannot account for their assets, “they have a lot to answer for.” He said too that this particular aspect of the probe was included in the terms of reference for the task force.
Sharma acknowledged what the President articulated but pointed out that the intention of the task force had been to submit two separate reports. He explained that the immediate focus had been the Fidelity Polar beer scandal, which has since been completed, with subsequent interest in the assets of the employees. “…It has been part of our terms of reference and we understand how important it is but also how detailed it is expected to be. Hopefully the necessary cooperation is there as the probe expands,” Sharma explained.
He said the new investigation would entail a deeper collaboration with law enforcement, as it requires a detailed check into bank accounts, recently acquired assets such as property and vehicles. But he added that it can also be difficult as warrants would be needed to assess such information since it is not readily available and that “access to certain areas of people’s lives is not immediately there.”
Asked about staff records within the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) on declarations of assets to the Integrity Commission, as is required, Sharma said such information is among that being sought. He noted that the GRA has an intelligence unit, which is expected to collaborate with the task force. Further, he said the task force is likely to request help from abroad, noting that the President has offered to assist in this area. Sharma pointed out that the Auditor General’s office has a forensic unit that was set up a short while ago and the unit will play a key role in this new investigation.
The bribery into allegations of corruption involving CTA staff and Fidelity Investment, which Sharma and a team recently completed, is expected to be tabled in the National Assembly on Thursday, when the contents would be made public.
Jagdeo initiated the probe last April following bombshell revelations about a ring to smuggle polar beer into the country and defraud the GRA of millions of dollars. The President spoke publicly on the report last week, disclosing that he had completed reading it and that the report was awaiting recommendations from the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).
The report offers details into the bribery scandal that rocked the Customs and Trade Administration (CTA) and documents a series of interviews with those alleged to have been involved. It also contains key recommendations as regards officials at customs and a string of others allegedly tied to the fraud, suggesting that criminal charges be instituted in some instances. Specifically, the report recommends charges against Fidelity Investments, the company at the centre of the investigation and the scandal.
Sources said the investigation found that officers were openly deceptive about the contents of the containers they had examined and cleared at the wharf for Fidelity as they insisted and even falsified documents, stating that soft drinks had been imported by the importer.
Well ,well , let us see how far thIS so call probe will go.We all know these customs officers barely make enough money to own these fancy cars and houses etc .GOOD LUCK TO THE AUDITOR GENERAL WITH THIS PROBE.
these people are servants to the people yet they have to beg and pay a bribe before services are rendered.
ALL THE GOVT. SERVICES DEPT>
This is refreshing news to read, but i would like to know if the administration is really serious about ridding guyana of corruption, or this is just a charade, because if this is true they really have to start from the top and come down to the bottom and do they have the guts to carry out these investigation without showing partiality or favor to anyone.
Mr. President do not forget to audit policemen, your ministers and the drug dealers too. You could recover billions in unpaid taxes from the unreported income of these individuals..
No you are wrong! Let the flim star, Acting Auditor General Deodat Sharma start with Roger Khan’s holdings in Guyana (Note,he can’t touch that, period. Then the law enforcement establishment, and later some ministers of the Government). Note, Homeland Security must protect the US home land and will capture the money and drugs activies in the USA that corrupt Guyanese Government Operaters have choosen to hide here in this country in the name of Real Estate. We will soon get all of them one by one. Just time! none of them wants to live in Guyana. Juat teck the money and run. We will soon get them right here hold strain….The dragnet is up..
Long overdue and if and when found guilty…must be jailed and all assets seized by law…let them continue to cry about low wages make them thief.i often said if you know what your wages are in advance and if you dont like it then seek higher wages elsewhere.but most of them take the job knowing the mighty perks behind it..
Dont only audit the custom officers who made their money by whatever means, but you also need to audit the government ministers.
I absolutely support this motion john brown & second it wholeheartedly. AUDIT THEM ALL, CUSTOMS & GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS. I bet there’ll be QUITE A FEW VACANCIES when the amount of corruption is unveiled. But this is nothing but wishful thinking, nothing will come of it & only a certain few will be audited. It’s amazing how there are nets which let the big fixh pass but hold on to the small ones. I thought that based on logic it would be the other way around.
… ALL ! those living abroad ,, and their beneficiaries ! the same way the USA can extradite foh drugs,,, we MUST have laws to do the same from wherever they r ,, if the have any thing of worth in GY it MUST be confiscated in the name of the GUYANESE PEOPLE ! end of discussion !……….
anything else is a slap on the hands ,, a hand that should be made short for taking the “BRIBE” !……
The firm Fidelity Investment had several directors who were former ministers of the present government.
Who will investigate them?
Guyana has an integrity commission where all politicians are required to declare all their assets before entering politics and those that were aquired during their years as active members of parliment and ploiticians.
Does the integrity commission function?
If so where is the location and who is the head of this entity?
We also need a probe of the assets of the traffic police!
Whatever man, this is all smoke and mirrors, and in the end the big fishes will not even be touched.
This is a joke story. it would’nt get anywhere, just a little wet beak so to speak.