Police Force fingered in financial scandals
2004-11-21 07:04:58
By Ludger Kasumuni
The Tanzania Police Force, which is charged with curbing thefts, is also being implicated in the embezzlement of millions of shillings from the government coffers, according to the latest report of the Controller and Auditor General.
The report signed by the Controller and Auditor General, Thomas Kiama, cites several audit queries including irregular and questionable payments for purchasing motor vehicles worth 3,850,224,698/-, which were not authorized by the Central Tender Board.
“A supplier was paid a total of 1,510,516,588/-, being part payment of 2,814,117,000/- for supplying 89 Land Rover pick ups and 11 Land Rover Discovery without obtaining approval of the Central Tender Board,” says the report.
The report ending June 30, 2003 adds that: “Retrospective approval should be sought from the Treasury to regularize the procurement of the 100 motor vehicles.”
In the report, one police officer, whose name was not revealed, is implicated in making fictitious claims of subsistence allowances amounting over 11m/-.
“The Police Force paid subsistence allowances to the tune of 11,197,285/- to an officer who allegedly had travelled on duty, within and outside the country.
Scrutiny of the claims however, revealed that the dates the officer claimed to have travelled overlap,” says the report.
The report also reveals that stores purchased worth 60,759,925/- were not confirmed as having been received and taken on ledger charge.
“It was therefore not possible to ascertain whether the stores were delivered and properly utilized,” the report says.
The report also says during that period ending June 30, 2003, the Police Force paid a total amount of 1,879,130,332/- from the development account to meet expenditure of a current nature, contrary to financial regulations.
“The amount has not been refunded or adjusted to the development account as at the time of writing this report,” says the Controller and Auditor General.
The report also reveals payments amounting to 30,024,252/- without corresponding receipts.
The Controller and Auditor General also reveals the missing signed pay-lists of Tanzanian Police Staff amounting to 88,145,250/-.
“It was noted that original signed pay lists relating to allowances paid to Tanzania Police Force staff amounting to 88,145,250/- were not made available during the audit examination of payments.
Thirteen audit queries were issued on this matter but have not been replied today,” says the report.
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