SINGAPORE: The Auditor-General's Office (AGO) listed eight lapses that did not fall under the other broad categories outlined in its report for the Financial Year 2013/14 issued on Thursday (July 15).
These included weaknesses in controls for the processing of housing allowance payments by the Ministry of Education; contracts made outside Singapore not being signed by authorised signatories, in the case of the Foreign Affairs Ministry; and weak controls over seized items by the Health Sciences Authority.
NPARKS: "A SERIOUS IRREGULARITY"
During the audit of the National Parks Board's development of the Gardens by the Bay, the AGO noted that certain documents may have been created and backdated to give the impression that they existed when the transactions took place - a "serious irregularity", said the Auditor-General.
An internal inquiry by the Ministry of National Development confirmed that an NParks officer had created and backdated 16 letters, purportedly issued by NParks to its suppliers, to satisfy AGO queries. The same officer also arranged for the suppliers to issue a further 11 backdated letters - five of which were created by the officer on their behalf.
The ministry concluded that there was no evidence to suggest that the integrity of the system of contract variations and payments had been compromised for contracts handled by the officer. The officer told the MND that he had done so "to regularise gaps in the documentation of communications with the suppliers for completeness of record".
However, the AGO said it "does not view these as merely acts to regularise gaps in documentation", while MND will be taking appropriate disciplinary action against the officer.
NParks said it takes a "serious view of the matter", and revealed that the officer has been counselled and issued a warning letter.
"There will be an adverse input in his performance appraisal and consequent downgrading of performance grade this year and an attendant reduction in any performance bonus otherwise payable. There will also be an impact on his promotion prospects," a spokesperson said.
These included weaknesses in controls for the processing of housing allowance payments by the Ministry of Education; contracts made outside Singapore not being signed by authorised signatories, in the case of the Foreign Affairs Ministry; and weak controls over seized items by the Health Sciences Authority.
NPARKS: "A SERIOUS IRREGULARITY"
During the audit of the National Parks Board's development of the Gardens by the Bay, the AGO noted that certain documents may have been created and backdated to give the impression that they existed when the transactions took place - a "serious irregularity", said the Auditor-General.
An internal inquiry by the Ministry of National Development confirmed that an NParks officer had created and backdated 16 letters, purportedly issued by NParks to its suppliers, to satisfy AGO queries. The same officer also arranged for the suppliers to issue a further 11 backdated letters - five of which were created by the officer on their behalf.
The ministry concluded that there was no evidence to suggest that the integrity of the system of contract variations and payments had been compromised for contracts handled by the officer. The officer told the MND that he had done so "to regularise gaps in the documentation of communications with the suppliers for completeness of record".
However, the AGO said it "does not view these as merely acts to regularise gaps in documentation", while MND will be taking appropriate disciplinary action against the officer.
NParks said it takes a "serious view of the matter", and revealed that the officer has been counselled and issued a warning letter.
"There will be an adverse input in his performance appraisal and consequent downgrading of performance grade this year and an attendant reduction in any performance bonus otherwise payable. There will also be an impact on his promotion prospects," a spokesperson said.
