OPA’s 2007 annual report indicated that as of Dec. 31, 2007, recommendations in 13 audit reports had been referred to the AGO for legal action to recover monies improperly spent.
On March 17, 2008 OPA requested for an update on these referrals and then met with the AGO on June 2 which resulted in the closure of eight recommendations in the audit reports that included the board-related transactions and purchase of vehicle for the Department of Public Works, the credit card and related-travel transactions for the Department of Public Lands, the Saipan Fishing Center and the lease of the Garapan Fishing Base, the Rota Health Center’s director’s claim against RHC, the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. board from Oct. 1999 to March 2001, and the Marianas Liaison Office.
OPA said the initial amount of recoverable funds referred to the AGO totaled $2.7 million.
After the closure of the eight referrals, $52,104 will not be pursued by the AGO, leaving a balance of $2.683 million potentially recoverable.
These include $739,346 from the Tinian Casino Gaming Control Commission which pertains to the overpayment, during the administration of Gov. Froilan C. Tenorio, of $543,375 to a consultant and the recovery of $195,971 from three other individuals for breach of fiduciary trust.
OPA said $392,178 can also be recovered from the commission for unlawful travel transactions.
The AGO’s action is also needed in the recovery of $1.3 million overpayments of professional services contracts in the CNMI again during the administration of Gov. Froilan C. Tenorio.
OPA said the balance of overpayments totaling $1.3 million was redirected to the AGO — $8,302 is immediately recoverable while $1.3 million is recoverable if adequately supported.
OPA noted that there is also $100,000 potentially recoverable from DPW for improper payments made to a surveying contractor; $75,000 misused funds handled by the former secretary of Department of Finance during fiscal years 1995-1997; $9,000 improper payments made by the Department of Public Health to the Rota Health Center director for repairs and non-existent lease extensions possibly paid out of the Rota imprest fund account; $4,982 from the improper reimbursement at RHC for a cost of a washing machine in Dec. 1993-1996; $40,131 improper reimbursement from the Commonwealth Ports Authority board members; $2,973 from travel overpayments and questionable payment from current and former board members of CUC; $2,200 from the balance of a loan receivable made to a CNMI constituent by then-Washington Rep. Juan N. Babauta; and $54,645 from the improper housing allowances paid to the Marianas Hawaii Liaison Office.
OPA said two cases with still unknown amounts of potentially recoverable from MPLA are still being handled by the AGO.
