Money missing at Aus

THE Ministry of Local Government says it has uncovered embezzlement at the Aus settlement office in the South.

A recent investigation found that staff based at the settlement office embezzled money between 2003 and 2005, Deputy Director of Local Authority Finance, Gabes Shivolo, told The Namibian yesterday. He said the misuse of money was discovered after the office’s financial records showed that its expenses exceeded its income by a huge margin.He blamed the Karas Regional Council for failing to manage the settlement’s affairs better.”Lack of proper control and management measures were evident during our investigation,” he said.Shivolo said the investigation found that money supposed to be deposited into the Regional Council’s bank account was kept at the settlement office.According to Shivolo, staff ran the settlement office without supervision by the Karas Regional Council.The Chief Regional Officer, Saalman Jacobs, yesterday disagreed.”Misappropriation of funds was uncovered [precisely] because proper control and management measures were in place,” he contended.Shivolo declined to say how much money was embezzled, or to name the suspected staff members.The Namibian was reliably informed, however, that close to N$100 000 is missing.He said the misuse of money was discovered after the office’s financial records showed that its expenses exceeded its income by a huge margin.He blamed the Karas Regional Council for failing to manage the settlement’s affairs better.”Lack of proper control and management measures were evident during our investigation,” he said.Shivolo said the investigation found that money supposed to be deposited into the Regional Council’s bank account was kept at the settlement office.According to Shivolo, staff ran the settlement office without supervision by the Karas Regional Council.The Chief Regional Officer, Saalman Jacobs, yesterday disagreed.”Misappropriation of funds was uncovered [precisely] because proper control and management measures were in place,” he contended.Shivolo declined to say how much money was embezzled, or to name the suspected staff members.The Namibian was reliably informed, however, that close to N$100 000 is missing.