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Alleged Misappropriation of the Single Police Officers Mess Fund [2003] VUOM 21; 2003.1 (3 June 2003)

REPUBLIC OF VANUATU

OFFICE OF THE OMBUDSMAN

PMB 9081
Port Vila
Vanuatu

PUBLIC REPORT

ON THE

ALLEGED MISAPPROPRIATION OF POLICE
SINGLE POLICE OFFICERS MESS FUND

3 June 2003

9095/2003/10

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PUBLIC REPORT
ON THE
ALLEGED MISAPPROPRIATION
OF THE SINGLE POLICE OFFICERS MESS FUND

SUMMARY

The Ombudsman received a complaint alleging that the single police officers mess at the Independence Park was forced to close down in December 1998 because there was an alleged misappropriation of the mess fund.

The single police mess was being run by funds that are being deducted from the single police officers salaries each payday to purchase food for the single police officers in order for them to have meals in the central area. The amount deducted was 2.525 Vt to 3,000 Vt per head per fortnight.

The Ombudsman found that the mess was closed for two main reasons. The reasons were that:

- There was a shortage of manpower to run and manage the single police officers mess, because some of the police officers who worked in the mess were short listed to be made redundant at the end of 1998, and,
- There was an outstanding debt of Vt583.748 at the Center Point Supermarket.

The Ombudsman also found that this debt was made in 1996 during the time when Superintendent Willie Samuel was managing the fund. At that time the salaries of 78 police officers were deducted each fortnight to the fund at the rate of 2.525 Vt per head. At this rate, the fund collected 196.950 Vt each fortnight from these deductions. From this calculation, the fund should receive Vt 4.726.800 in 1996 alone

The Ombudsman also found that the mess funds was being authorized by the former Commissioners of Police to be used for other purposes other than food for the single police officers. The investigation also found that 100.000 Vt was authorized to be taken from the mess funds to buy a billiard table in 1990 and a further 300.000 Vt was given to a senior police officer in the Force to use for personal purposes.

However, evidence gathered during the enquiry of this report confirmed that the amount of money borrowed were refunded at two different times in 1992 and 1999.

The Ombudsman also found that the outstanding debts of Vt583.748 at the Center Point Supermarket must be made due to alleged mismanagement and misappropriation of the mess funds by the police officers who managed the fund

Following this enquiry, the Ombudsman has made the following recommendations in this report: