Fraud probe stalled

THE board chairmen and head teachers of seven schools in the National Capital District, who are reportedly linked to allegations of misappropriating school funds, have not yet been referred to the police fraud squad for full investigations.
According to director for NCD general education services Tau Nauna, a comprehensive report from the schools, including the financial audit committee report into school accounts, had not been received, thus delaying referrals of those involved to the fraud team.
“The NDC education board is still waiting for full details of the report to be tabled by the audit committee responsible for carrying out the audits on financial dealings of each school,” Nauna said on Monday.
The allegations were first reported by a representative from the NCD education board (named) last September at the launch of the Education Department’s universal basic education approach at Eki Vaki
Primary School.
The official, who is currently on leave, said the board was aware of those involved in
misusing funds allocated for rehabilitation and other school purposes.
He said mismanagement of funds had been happening for a number of years, affecting schools and institutional infrastructure.
Nauna said they had frozen trust accounts to prevent any further transactions  by the schools concerned since the end of last year.
He said the audit committee was also trying to verify other allegations which included New
Erima Primary School, assuring that the report on these allegations would be out soon.