An investigation by the Attorney General’s office has revealed that payment vouchers issued to Christopher Pryde, the suspended director of the Public Prosecutor’s office, lacked proper approval. This finding was disclosed by Paula Naitoka, the Principal Accounts Officer at the Attorney General’s office, during the concluding day of the tribunal examining allegations regarding Mr. Pryde’s unauthorized payments.
Mr. Naitoka stated that while the investigation had its limitations, they were able to identify two payment vouchers from January 2011, coinciding with the year Mr. Pryde was appointed as Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). He acknowledged the investigation’s timeframe was tight and could not confirm if there were other records pertaining to Mr. Pryde’s payment history dating back to 2007. He expressed that it was possible more records existed; however, they did not review all available documentation.
In Mr. Naitoka’s expert view, the transaction clauses that Mr. Pryde relied upon should have undergone further scrutiny by the Judicial Service Commission. He pointed out that the agreement lacked clarity regarding the allowable payment amounts, indicating a flaw in the drafting process.
Echoing these remarks, Auditor General Finau Nagera emphasized that further clarification should have been sought regarding Mr. Pryde’s payroll. She noted that the payroll should include a quantified amount along with an explanation of how it was determined. Ms. Nagera mentioned that these discrepancies were only noticed following the request for investigation and indicated that Mr. Pryde had been engaging in similar practices prior to his appointment as DPP, yet these concerns were never brought to Parliament’s attention at that time.
The tribunal heard from the final five witnesses on Friday, and the Fiji Law Society has until next week to submit their feedback before the tribunal drafts its final report to the President, Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu, by December 23.
In summary, this ongoing investigation exposes potential lapses in oversight regarding payment approvals within the legal framework, shedding light on the need for enhanced checks and balances in public offices. This situation underscores the importance of accountability and transparency in governmental financial practices, which could lead to improved governance moving forward.
Overall, the investigation serves as a reminder of the need for rigorous compliance and oversight in public expenditures, promising a pathway to more systematic and transparent financial management in the future.
Leave a comment