$14M skimmed in pension scam
-Auditor General's report
Stabroek News
January 1, 2003
An interim report from the Office of the Auditor General has found that nearly $14M was stolen between May and October during the Old Age Pension Scam.
And while criminal charges have yet to be laid, Human Services and Social Security Minister Bibi Shadick said yesterday that disciplinary action would follow for officers in the Accounts Department of the Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security. Speaking at the Ministry's year-end press conference, Shadick told reporters that the interim report revealed that 8,078 invalid pension vouchers were cashed at various post offices between May and October yielding a sum of $13,958,784.
The report revealed that 635 false vouchers were cashed in May; 486 in June; 1,386 in July; 2,471 in August; 2,374 in September; and 726 in October. She said these figures could vary in the final report but not significantly.
Shadick noted that since the racket was discovered in September, every voucher was now being scrutinised and since October, no false vouchers had been detected.
As the Ministry prepares for the distribution of pension books for this year, beginning on January 13, additional security measures have been adopted.
Shadick was unwilling to reveal what specific features have been implemented, but said each voucher would be checked thoroughly, to ensure authenticity. One of the additional measures was the placement of a special stamp on vouchers by the Guyana Post Office Corporation. But the Minister said this feature was no longer going to be implemented.
Since launching investigations into the fraud at the beginning of the final quarter of last year, police have yet to institute any charges. Three senior employees of the Ministry have been dismissed for reasons which, the Minister said, may or may not be linked with the probe. These three persons have moved to the High Court to challenge their dismissals and the matter is pending.
Meanwhile, the Minister also noted that the report has recommended disciplinary action for officers in the Accounts Department. "Disciplinary action will follow," she asserted.
