Regional Executive Officer (REO) of Region Four Shafdar Alli yesterday said he is not aware of any investigation being carried out by the Auditor General’s Office in connection with his alleged misuse of millions of dollars and arbitrary awarding contracts to a few select contractors.

Yesterday’s edition of the Kaieteur News reported that Alli is being investigated and that he had been sent on leave pending the investigation.

Stabroek News contacted Regional Chairman Clement Corlette-who has had long standing issues with the REO-but he declined to comment on the telephone and suggested that his office be visited on Monday for an interview.

Efforts to contact Auditor General Doodnauth Sharma and Local Government Minister Kellawan Lall were unsuccessful.

However, speaking with Stabroek News yesterday, Alli refuted claims that he has been sent on leave, explaining that he is on his annual leave, which ends on February 27. “I have letters to prove that I am on my annual leave,” Alli said. He stated that he was due some 104 days of annual leave, since he had not taken a vacation since 2007. “I am not aware of any prove going on,” Alli said.

When asked whether he checked with the Auditor General’s office to ascertain if a probe is indeed being conducted, Alli said: “I am an accounting officer by law appointed by the Minister of Finance and if indeed such a probe is taking place then protocol demands that I be notified.”