12 Institutions named in financial scam probe

KIGALI - Twelve institutions have been named for mismanaging public finances in the 2005 fiscal year. According to a source familiar with investigations into the mismanagement of tax- payers’ money, the twelve cases are criminal in nature and have all been forwarded to the Supreme Court. The institutions include the Rwanda Office of Tourism and National Parks (ORTPN), ETO (Technical School) Muhima, Ecole Secondaire de Kicukiro, Treatment and Research for HIV/Aids Centre (TRAC), Rwanda National Examination Council (RNEC) and the National University of Rwanda (NUR). Others found culpable are the National Unity and Reconciliation Commission (NURC), the Ministry of Public Service and Labour, Atraco, and the then provinces of Byumba and Cyangugu. Information on the total amount of money diverted by the twelve institutions was not available to The Sunday Times by press time. “Many employees of the aforementioned institutions forged receipts to dupe the Auditor General that it was used properly,” the source said. Bonaventure Ruberwa, a national prosecutor confirmed that the twelve embezzlement cases were committed deliberately. He said the office of the Prosecutor General was sending all officials implicated to court. He declined to name the implicated officials. He said a teacher at ETO Muhima diverted school funds and later forged receipts. Atraco, a Commuter Taxi Association was reportedly given about Frw24m by the National HIV/AIDS Control Commission (CNLS) to organize seminars for its drivers on the dangers of HIV virus. The money was allegedly pocketed. “Atraco said the seminars were held but on crosschecking, it was discovered that the seminars never took place,” Ruberwa explained in an interview at his office in Kimihurura. According to him, many cases in the implicated institutions were similar in nature: Either officials would inflate the receipts or buy non-existent office furniture. Lack of supporting documents and financial statements rendered accountability futile. “Someone shows you a receipt indicating that he bought a computer but he cannot show you the computer,” Ruberwa said. He said the office of the Prosecutor General has requested the Supreme Court to institute a special hearing for the embezzlement cases. Out of 47 institutions indicated in the report, 18 cases were as a result of administrative mistakes while 16 other institutions are still under probe. Five have been cleared and the Auditor General has been asked to re-audit two others. The recently released 2006 AG reports that a colossal sum amounting to Frw5.3b had not been accounted for. Ends