The AGO reports: Of lapses, dishonesty and corrupt practices...

After founding solid evidence that points to clear-cut conflict-of-interests by a Citizen’s Consultative Committee (CCC) Chairman and a CCC member, the People’s Association (PA)-appointed Investigation Panel found “no evidence of dishonesty”.


These are the following corrupted acts committed by the CCC Chairman and the CCC member which the PA found “no evidence of dishonesty”:


1) On two occasions, a company related to the CCC Chairman and CCC member won a tender with the lowest bid and the two knowingly did not declare that their relationships with the company. The two contracts are worth S$32,000.


2) On seven occasions, The CCC Chairman approved his own claims to the tune of S$114,767.


3) On one occasion, the CCC Chairman approved S$1,500 of purchase for a company where he was director.


The numerous corrupted acts are found and released by the Attorney-General’s Office (AGO) but the Singapore Police’s Corrupt Practice Investigation Bureau (CPIB) is not activated. The PA claimed that everything is “according to procedures” and choose to label the corrupted acts as “lapses”.


The chairman of PA is Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and the CPIB reports to the Prime Minister’s Office.


PA Board List


The CCC chairman has since resigned but he was not arrested as no police reports have been made. The identity of the CCC chairman is unknown and the PAP constituency he was in-charge of remains anonymous and covered up by the Singapore state-controlled media Channel News Asia.


Below is the press release from the PA:

Re: Corrupted acts found but PA declare “No evidence of Dishonesty”

Making Purchases Without Prior Formal Approvals

In many instances, Project Organising Committees gave in-principle approval for purchases in order to ensure timely delivery of community programmes. They would then seek formal approval at the next GRO committee meeting.


For example, in 2014, the CCs had decided to screen the World Cup Games for residents. A CC needed to replace its old projector with one that could show high definition video on a big screen. All procurement procedures were followed.

However, as the next committee meeting was only 30 days later, in-principle approval was obtained from the CCMC’s key office-bearers. This is insufficient, as according to the rules, such approvals must be made by the full committee.


In another case, during the severe haze situation in 2013, a community hospital appealed to a GRO for air purifiers for patients in their non-aircon wards. The volunteers scoured all major retailers, including large electrical stores, but all were out of stock.


When the volunteers finally found a store that had limited remaining stock, they purchased the air purifiers immediately to help alleviate the discomfort of the patients. However, the rules require GROs to first seek a waiver of competition from the appropriate approving authority before making the purchase.


Delay In Collection of Course Fees
The rules require GROs to collect all fees due to them on time. In this instance, the delay in payment by the operator was because needy students on the tuition programme had difficulties paying their fees promptly to the operator. Instead of delaying the collection of fees from the operator while waiting for the late payment from needy students who were not able to pay on time, the Residents’ Committee (RC) should have advised the operator to pay them the fees collected progressively in batches, as and when they were collected from the students. The RC has since collected all fees due from the operator.


Data Entry Errors
The inaccuracies were mainly the result of data-entry errors, such as duplicate entries of Citizens’ Consultative Committee (CCC) ComCare Fund (CCF) disbursements, incorrect amounts recorded and inclusion of financial assistance that was not funded from CCF. The PA has corrected all data entry errors for all CCCs. All funds were accounted for, and no recipient of financial assistance was denied assistance or over paid due to the data entry errors.


NON-DECLARATION OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST AND APPROVING OWN CLAIMS AT ONE CCC
The PA rules require all volunteers to declare any conflict of interest. No one can approve payments to themselves. However, there were lapses at one CCC.


As the PA takes a serious view of conflict of interest issues, an Investigation Panel was convened on Jul 1 2015 to establish the facts and investigate any wrongdoing, review the financial and risk management processes and recommend measures to prevent recurrence. The CCC Chairman in question had voluntarily stepped down on Jul 5 to facilitate a full and impartial investigation. The investigation was completed on Jul 14.


The Investigation Panel verified that all quotations for works and services were handled by the staff in a confidential manner. The bids were then submitted to the CCC for evaluation and the tender was awarded to the lowest bidder, which was about 30 per cent lower than the next lowest bid. These tendering procedures were in accordance with the rules.


However, the CCC Chairman and a CCC member were related to the company which submitted the bids, which were also the lowest and winning bids in both cases. According to the rules, the CCC Chairman should have declared his interest and excused himself from the evaluation and approval process. Likewise, although the CCC member did not know beforehand that the bid from his company would be presented at the meeting for approval, he should have excused himself when he realised it.


Regarding approval of own claims, the Panel noted that the amounts claimed by the CCC Chairman were subsequently verified by supporting documents. However, the staff responsible for preparing the payments should have been more conscientious in ensuring compliance with the financial rules by requiring that the Vice-Chairman, Secretary or Treasurer approve the claims instead of the CCC Chairman himself.


While the Panel found no evidence of dishonesty, the non-declaration of conflict of interest is nonetheless a serious lapse. The Panel noted that the Chairman involved has apologised for the lapse and had already stepped down from his position. With the completion of the investigation, PA has since accepted his resignation on July 15. The CCC member has been reminded to comply with proper procedures. Staff involved will be reprimanded.


IMMEDIATE RECTIFICATION OF LAPSES
PA has taken immediate action to obtain appropriate approvals and rectify all lapses observed. As these lapses indicate that some GROs may be unfamiliar with the financial rules, we will step up training for GROs. A circular has also been issued reminding them to strictly comply with PA’s financial rules. We have also set up a hotline to guide GROs on correct procurement procedures.


To prevent future lapses, the PA will strengthen the supervision of our 1,800 GROs’ compliance with the financial rules and regulations. We have also set up a Grassroots Finance Review Committee. It will review the financial rules to enhance compliance, and propose measures to facilitate effective monitoring by staff. The Committee will also recommend suitable measures that would enable our 37,000 grassroots leaders and volunteers to continue to serve the community’s best interests while maintaining good governance and sound financial practices.


We have learnt from the findings of the AGO. We will improve and strive to do better in future audits.”

https://www.facebook.com/STReview?fref=nf

Auditor General uncovers $$$ @@@ %%% in PA, CCC

The AGO's checks found that the chairman of a CCC was involved in approving the award of two contracts worth a total of S$32,000 and corresponding payments to a company of which he was a member of the senior management. For one of the awards, another CCC member involved in the approval process was both a director and shareholder of the company, the AGO said.

The CCC chairman also approved payment for a purchase worth S$1,500 from another company where he was both a director and shareholder.

In these cases, the two CCC members involved did not declare their interests in the transactions, the AGO said. "As a result, there was no assurance that the transactions were conducted at arms' length."

PA acknowledged that the chairman should not have approved the payments, but checked and found that there was no irregularity in the payments as the amounts tallied with the quotations and the work tendered.

Test-checks revealed seven instances where the CCC chairman was involved in approving his own claims, totalling S$114,767 - a "clear conflict of roles", the AGO said. In three of these payments, no supporting documents were available.

Re: Auditor General uncovers $$$ @@@ %%% in PA, CCC

The list of all the wrong doings uncovered by the auditor is here :
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/mobile/singapore/auditor-general-s-report/1985518.html?cid=fbsg

Re: Corrupted acts found but PA declare “No evidence of Dishonesty”

[h=1]Auditor-General's Report highlights lapses in administration of grants again[/h] [h=2]Auditor-General Willie Tan flagged four areas for public sector entities to pay greater attention to: The administration of grants, tendering and management of revenue contracts, management of contract variations and related party transactions.[/h]

• POSTED: 15 Jul 2015 17:30
• UPDATED: 15 Jul 2015 18:51

• PHOTOS

The Auditor-General's Report for the Financial Year 2014/15.

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SINGAPORE: Lapses in the administration of grants, the tendering and management of revenue contracts and the management of contract variations were highlighted in the Auditor-General’s Report for the Financial Year 2014/15, released on Wednesday (Jul 15).


In the report submitted by Auditor-General Willie Tan to President Tony Tan Keng Yam on Jul 1, four areas were highlighted for public sector entities to pay greater attention to:

In the report for the previous Financial Year released in July 2014, lapses in the administration of grants and commitment of public funds were also highlighted.


In the latest report released on Wednesday, the Auditor-General’s Office (AGO) said: "The common weakness observed include failure by the public sector entities to ensure that the correct amount of grants are disbursed and conditions for grants are adhered to. For proper accountability, it is important that controls and proper mechanisms are in place to ensure that grants are used for the intended purposes."


For issues in revenue contracts, the AGO said: "These lapses raised concerns on whether the key principles of open and fair competition, and transparency, had been upheld.
"

Other areas cited in this year's report were lapses in procurement; controls over information technology (IT); and the management of assets.

Auditor-General Tan also flagged concerns over the lack of documentation on "decisions, actions taken and matters with significant financial implications" in the areas audited.


"AGO is aware that maintaining records requires time and effort, and hence AGO does not expect every issue to be recorded. However, AGO is concerned when entities are unable to produce any evidence of ... key considerations when decisions were made at the material point in time," he said.

The public sector entities singled out in the report include the People's Association, the Singapore Workforce Development Agency, the National Parks Board and the Institute of Technical Education and Singapore Polytechnic. In the case of the PA, a Citizen's Consultative Commmittee chairman fail to declare conflict of interest by awarding S$32,000 worth of contracts to a company at which he was a member of senior management, and had approved S$114,767 of his own claims. He has since stepped down, and an investigation was completed on Tuesday. PA has also taken immediate measures to ensure the lapses do not occur again.


"THE AUDITS GIVE ASSURANCE"


In the course of the audit, the AGO said that it carries out test checks of internal controls of selected areas in Government ministries and other state bodies. These include checks for "financial irregularity, excess, extravagance or gross inefficiency leading to waste in the use of funds and resources". The AGO also takes into account complaints received on the use and management of public funds and resources.


According to the Auditor-General, the annual report covers selected audit observations that are typically more significant in terms of monetary value, frequency of occurrence and impact on accounting. Minor lapses are also reported if they point to significant or systemic weaknesses in internal controls.



“The audits give assurance to the President and Parliament on the proper accounting, management and use of public resources. In the process, they strengthen the accountability of public sector entities as custodians and stewards of public resources,” the Auditor-General said in the report.

He also noted that the AGO conducts audits on a test-check basis, and thus may not reveal all irregularities and weaknesses. “However, they should help to uncover some of the serious lapses.”


All observations from the audit are conveyed to the respective ministries, statutory boards and other related bodies by way of AGO Management Letters.




- CNA/es

Re: Corrupted acts found but PA declare “No evidence of Dishonesty”

Can Auditor general stop the gravy train?

(starting from the RC member who volunteers because of a free season parking label.....)

Re: Corrupted acts found but PA declare “No evidence of Dishonesty”

When the rot starts from the top. The durian certainly don't fall far.

Re: Corrupted acts found but PA declare “No evidence of Dishonesty”

Any acts relating to mangoes discovered?

Re: Corrupted acts found but PA declare “No evidence of Dishonesty”

[h=1]Auditor-General's Report identifies lapses in Gardens By The Bay contract controls[/h] [h=2]Jurong Town Council's development of the International Cruise Terminal and two overseas National Population and Talent Division events were also flagged for laxity in control over contract variations.[/h]

• POSTED: 15 Jul 2015 17:30
• UPDATED: 15 Jul 2015 17:33

• PHOTOS

Gardens by the Bay uses aerial drones to monitor and track changes in the Gardens. (Photo: Ministry of National Development)

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• Caption

SINGAPORE: The development of two major projects - Gardens By The Bay and the International Cruise Terminal - came under the scrutiny of the Auditor-General for lapses in the control of contract variation works, when there are changes to contracts due to unforeseen circumstances.


"Public sector entities are expected to carry out reasonable checks on the prices of goods and services and obtain approval before awarding the contract variations," the Auditor-General's Office said in the report, released on Wednesday (Jul 15). "This is to ensure that the Government procurement principles of value for money and open and fair competition are adhered to."


It added that obtaining retrospective approvals for variations weakens the controls put in place to ensure that variations are properly justified, and that the approving authority has adequate insight of project costs.


NATIONAL PARKS BOARD
"The Auditor-General's Office's test-checks revealed a general lack of documentation, failure to obtain approval and laxity in control over contract variations by NParks in managing the development of the Gardens By The Bay project", which has an estimated total contract value of S$1.06 billion, the AGO said.


"Consequently, there was no assurance that NParks had not spent more funds than necessary."


One consultant was allowed to commence services before approval was obtained to call a tender in which only that consultant was invited to bid, for a project with a contract value of S$2.37 million, said the AGO. "By doing so, NParks had prematurely communicated to the consultant that it had intended to award the contract to the consultant."


NParks said it did so as it faced a tight timeline, and acknowledged that it should have highlighted to relevant authorities that more time was needed, and called an open tender instead.


The AGO also found that three consultancy services contracts with an estimated total value of S$20.77 million was awarded via waiver of competition, but without compelling reasons. Again, the tight timeline was cited, though no evidence was found to show this.


The AGO also took issue with the weak controls over contract variations in the Gardens By The Bay project.


In 43 instances, the AGO found that only a single quote was received for various projects, but there was no documentary evidence of the assessment of whether the quotes were reasonable. In 45 cases, approval were obtained only after the work had been carried out or completed. And in 12 instances, no evidence was found of approval for variation work even though payment had been made.


NParks said that these variations were mainly "specialist sub-consultancy studies" which had to be carried out due to the complexity of the project; to minimise such future occurrences, NParks said it would incorporate such studies in the main tenders instead. It has also implemented a computerised contract variation system to better track approvals of such contracts.


JURONG TOWN CORPORATION

In its audit of the construction and consultancy services contracts for the International Cruise Terminal undertaken by JTC - worth a total of S$510.18 million - the AGO found that approvals of 87.1 per cent of variations were not obtained from the relevant authority before works were carried out, while payment on the variations were S$340,000 higher than those based on contractual rates.


"Obtaining retrospective approvals for variations weakens the controls put in place to ensure that variations are properly justified," the AGO said. "These controls are essential to ensure that the approving authority has adequate oversight of project costs."


JTC also did not carry out assessments on whether fees were reasonable before engaging consultants to provide new services, the AGO said. JTC said it had obtained in-principle approvals for urgent variations, but these were not documented.


NATIONAL POPULATION AND TALENT DIVISION
In reviewing the procurement of event managements services for two overseas events held in 2013 and 2014, with a total original value of S$6.79 million, the AGO found the the National Population and Talent Division (NPTD) had not checked that the prices of goods and services, totalling S$1.51 million, procured by its vendors on its behalf were reasonable.


A similar observation had been made in the AGO report for FY2011/12, upon which the NPTD had said it would carry out cost comparisons for future events. "The current failure to carry out reasonableness checks ... is thus a recurring lapse," said the AGO.


The AGO also found that prior approval was not obtained for all variation works totalling S$1.47 million - a 60.7 per cent over the original contract value - for the 2013 event. The NPTD said it would review and improve the management of its contract variation processes.




- CNA/es

Re: Corrupted acts found but PA declare “No evidence of Dishonesty”

Yah lah!, they have dis-HONESTY that is impeccable....the 'police & thief' the same people....so go figure!..only the 60% can't.

Re: Corrupted acts found but PA declare “No evidence of Dishonesty”

if not happen in AHPETC, entire WP A~Team be convicted and disqualified from next GE. PAP time is running out.

Re: Corrupted acts found but PA declare “No evidence of Dishonesty”

What happened to the PA staff, caught spitting on someone's table on camera, some time back ? Also covered up & forgotten ?

Re: Corrupted acts found but PA declare “No evidence of Dishonesty”

Could this chap be the toothpick thief?

"In the case of the PA, a Citizen's Consultative Commmittee chairman fail to declare conflict of interest by awarding S$32,000 worth of contracts to a company at which he was a member of senior management, and had approved S$114,767 of his own claims."

Re: Corrupted acts found but PA declare “No evidence of Dishonesty”

I remember when WP lapses were found by AGO, they were classified and reported as "major lapses". Why these PA lapses not classified? Don't tell me these are considered minor lapses not worth classifying? Whether have dishonesty or not, AGO should report clearly are these major lapses or not.

Re: Corrupted acts found but PA declare “No evidence of Dishonesty”

Dark Knight said:

Could this chap be the toothpick thief?

"In the case of the PA, a Citizen's Consultative Commmittee chairman fail to declare conflict of interest by awarding S$32,000 worth of contracts to a company at which he was a member of senior management, and had approved S$114,767 of his own claims."

Click to expand...

What if he declared the conflict of interest, and other committee members awarded that contract to his company still? Would that satisfy the AGO?

Re: Corrupted acts found but PA declare “No evidence of Dishonesty”

If the toothpick thief declared, hinted (directly or indirectly) that he is interested in toothpick and "rightfully not supposed to take" a bunch of them yet he took them when given.
He is still a toothpick thief. This will be classified as "to know the law and break it; consciously going against the rules. 知法犯法" which 办起来罪加一等.

Definition of Conflict of Interest

Directors are considered to be in a “conflict of interest” whenever they themselves, or members of their family, business partners or close personal associates, may personally benefit either directly or indirectly, financially or otherwise, from their position on the Board. A Director is to use his or her best judgment in determining whether he or she is in a situation which may present, or be perceived to present, a conflict. A Director in a conflict of interest is an “Interested Person.” A conflict of interest may be “real”, “potential” or “perceived,” but the same duty to disclose applies to each should a matter arise before the Board that may pose a conflict for any Director. Full disclosure does not remove a conflict of interest, nor does it automatically create any additional obligations on behalf of a Director.

Re: Corrupted acts found but PA declare “No evidence of Dishonesty”

60%: No problem lah!

Re: Corrupted acts found but PA declare “No evidence of Dishonesty”

Now, John Tan the pedophile can also claim the title of corrupt.

If sinkees don't see the obvious - that the PAP has hounded WP for relative minor lapses while ignoring corrupt practices in the government - no one can save sinkapore.

Natonal Library Corruption Caught, someone going to prison?

http://www.todayonline.com/singapor...-possible-wrongdoings-related-procurement-nlb



NLB in police probe for possible illegal procurement
NLB in police probe for possible illegal procurement
TODAY file photo of the National Library.

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By
Laura Elizabeth Philomin
[email protected]
Published: 5:30 PM, July 15, 2015
Updated: 12:32 AM, July 16, 2015
(Page 1 of 2) - NEXT PAGE | SINGLE PAGE

SINGAPORE — The police are investigating “possible wrongdoings” related to the procurement of electronic resources by the National Library Board (NLB), following lapses uncovered by an annual audit of the public sector by the Auditor-General’s Office (AGO).

Details of the case were sketchy, as the police is investigating. Released today (July 15), the findings of the AGO audit for 2014/15 financial year of public agencies have also led to the voluntary resignation of the chairman of Admiralty Citizens’ Consultative Committee (CCC) over conflict of interest in related party transactions.
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The chairman was involved in approving awards of two contracts amounting to S$32,000 to a company where he held a senior management position. For one of the awards, another CCC member - who was a director and shareholder of the company - was also involved in the approval process. Both the CCC chairman and the CCC member, who were unnamed in the AGO report, did not declare their interests in the transactions. The CCC chairman was also involved in approving seven of his own claims totalling S$114,767. The claims were subsequently verified by supporting documents.

In a press statement, the People’s Association (PA), which oversees the CCCs, said it set up an investigation panel on July 1. Four days later, the CCC chairman voluntarily stepped down to “facilitate a full and impartial investigation”. The investigation was completed yesterday, and PA accepted the resignation today.

National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan, who is a Member of Parliament for Sembawang GRC, said the CCC had fully cooperated with the PA investigation panel. “I am glad that the investigation panel found no evidence of dishonesty. Nonetheless, it was a related party transaction that was not declared,” he added. “The CCC will study the investigation report, and review its procedures to ensure that such lapses do not recur.”

PA said the CCC member has been reminded to comply with proper procedures, and staff involved in the lapses would be reprimanded. On the approval of claims, PA said the staff responsible for preparing the payments should have been more conscientious in ensuring compliance with financial rules by requiring the vice-chairman, secretary or treasurer to approve the claims instead of the chairman himself.

FOUR AREAS OF CONCERN

Related party transaction was among the four areas highlighted by Auditor-General Willie Tan Yoke Meng where public agencies could pay greater attention to. The Institute of Technical Education (ITE) and Singapore Polytechnic (SP) were also taken to task over related party transactions.

ITE leased office space to its subsidiary ITE Education Services (ITEES) without obtaining approval. It also did not charge ITEES market rate, thus undercharging by S$480,000 for the five-year licence period. SP leased land parcel at below market rate to Singapore Polytechnic Graduates Guild (SPGG), against government policy of letting premises at market rates.

Other areas of concern cited by AGO were the administration of grants, tendering and management of revenue contracts, and management of contract variations.
(Page 1 of 2) - NEXT PAGE | SINGLE PAGE
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PA was also rapped for weaknesses in managing tenancy contracts, and procurement lapses. For example, 35 management committees of community clubs or centres did not get approvals from relevant authorities for awarding 53 tenancy contracts that amounted to S$17.78 million.

Five grassroots organisations (GROs) had awarded nine contracts - totalling S$152,600 - before approvals were obtained from relevant authorities. The approvals were granted between two and 70 days after the contracts were awarded.
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AGO said the lapses reflect “a lack of oversight” by PA on GROs’ compliance with its financial rules.

PA said in its press statement that there were many instances where project organising committees gave in-principle approval for purchases to ensure timely delivery of community programmes. These included buying a new projector to screen the World Cup football games last year, and air purifiers for patients in non-air conditioned wards at a community hospital during the severe bout of haze in 2013.

Stressing that it takes the AGO findings seriously, PA said that a committee has been set up to review the financial rules for GROs to enhance compliance, and propose measures to facilitate effective monitoring by staff. It has also issued a circular reminding GROs to strictly comply with the rules, and started a hotline to guide them on correct procurement procedures.

NLB’s LAPSES

Other agencies chided by the AGO in its 86-page report included NLB, which had procured e-resources directly from vendors “without any evidence” of having considered other alternative materials that were similar. Apart from not having a robust system to verify that the selected vendors were sole distributors of the e-resources. NLB also renewed subscriptions to the e-resources “based on weak justifications”.

In FY2012/2013, NLB spent about S$7.3 million to buy and maintain its e-resources collection including e-books and databases, AGO said.

Detailing the string of lapses, AGO said that for all seven cases of procurement that it test-checked, it observed “no documentary evidence” to show how NLB had selected those e-resources over other materials of similar nature. Separately, out of 29 procurement cases test-checked, AGO found 13 cases where NLB merely relied on scanned copies of letters provided by the vendors to confirm their sole distributorships of the e-resources. It should have confirmed these with the owners of the materials, AGO said.

NLB also renewed annual subscriptions for an e-resource for two consecutive years, despite low usage rates and against the recommendations of its evaluators. The renewals were justified on weak grounds that the vendor would implement initiatives to improve usage.

Following the AGO’s findings, NLB has tightened its processes and adopted open tenders as the default procurement to “ensure transparency and fair competition”. An NLB spokesperson said: “We have also enforced direct verification of sole distributorships and strengthened the evaluation process for subscription renewals, in compliance with the government instruction manual.”

AGO said there were indications that the weaknesses could have been exploited and it had recommended that the case be referred to the police. NLB’s parent ministry, the Ministry of Communications and Information (MCI), said a police report was immediately made based on AGO’s observations of possible wrongdoings. “As the case is under investigation, we are unable to comment further,” an MCI spokesperson said.

Re: Corrupted acts found but PA declare “No evidence of Dishonesty”

60% don't care. Sometimes I feel like voting pappee and give them a overwhelming mandate so that children of the 60% kenna screw by pappee without restrain in the future.:o Why waste our efforts to keep pappee on their toes when these 60% don't care or vote for their short term selfish self interest.:o

makapaaa said:

60%: No problem lah!

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