By JULIA DAIA BORE
NATIONAL Capital District Governor Powes Parkop has terminated two senior NCD Commission officers over alleged misappropriation of funds and referred them to the fraud squad for possible prosecution.
Two other senior commission officers who were earlier suspended and charged had been reinstated.
However, they have been reassigned to other sections of the commission pending a review by NCDC board.
The terminated officers are four members of NCDC executive management suspended and charged last Sept 13.
Mr Parkop had terminated them shortly after receiving the investigation findings a few days after assuming office as governor.
In a statement released last Friday, Mr Parkop said he terminated the two officers – Raula Galewa, deputy city manager, Finance and Administration; and Gaius Helix, deputy city manager, community and social services.
On the other hand, Mr Parkop lifted the suspension of two senior commission officers – Frank Makauney, acting director corporate affairs; and Iakari Ivai, acting chief internal auditor.
Mr Galewa was suspended and charged last Sept 13, “for three disciplinary charges”, Mr Parkop said.
Mr Galewa’s suspension concerned the payments made during the period January to June 2007, the exceeding of budget estimates for 2007 and his failure to respond to a directive regarding the payments made for supposed construction of teachers’ houses and classrooms at Morata Primary School when no such buildings were ever built.
Meanwhile, Mr Helix had been terminated but was given 30 days to appeal to the commission board.
Mr Helix’s termination was based on “his reply to the charges”, Mr Parkop said. The governor said his reply was “insufficient to explain the anomalies and illegal payments”.
The matter of alleged misappropriation by Mr Helix also concerned the K300,000 payout for the supposed construction of the Morata Primary School’s teachers staff houses that never took place.
Mr Parkop said although the suspension of Mr Makauney and Mr Ivai had been lifted and that they were reinstated, their future with the commission would depend on the outcome of a review the board will undertake.