Public Auditor Michael Pai said his office referred the cases to the AGO as early as Dec. 31, 2008 to recover monies improperly expended.
On Aug. 12, OPA made inquiries about the status of the cases but updates were not immediately given.
“The AGO did not respond to this request or provide OPA an update on these referrals. As such, the status of these referrals remains unchanged from the previous report as of June 30, 2008,” Pai said in a report released to the media.
The pending cases include a $739,346 overpayment to an unnamed consultant of the Tinian Casino Gaming Control Commission on grounds of unjust enrichment, conversion, fraud and breach of fiduciary duty.
Three other individuals with connection to the commission are being sought to return $195,971 in taxpayer’s money for breach of fiduciary trust.
OPA is also seeking recovery of $392,178 from the commission on questionable travel expenses made from 1996 to 2001.
More than $1.3 million is also being asked to be returned to the CNMI from different professional service contractors.
At least $100,000 in improper payments made to a surveying contractor on Tinian was also referred to the AGO.
Funds totaling $75,000 reportedly misused by a former finance secretary during fiscal years 1995 to 1997 is also being asked to be recovered.
The OPA also referred officials of the defunct Marianas Public Lands Authority to return double payments made to them and overpaid per diem during the period of Sept. 1992 to 1994.
The AGO, however, told OPA this case should be closed due to statute of limitation.
Similarly, the AGO told OPA to also close a case involving more than $40,000 of misspent taxpayer money at the Commonwealth Ports Authority due to statute of limitation.
The same goes for unspecified overpayments and questionable payments made to former officials of the Commonwealth Utilities Corp.
OPA said the number of delinquent recommendations rose by 40 percent or from 30 in 2007 to 42 in 2008.
“Agencies with delinquent recommendations as of Dec. 31, 2008 include the Attorney General’s Office, the Commonwealth Ports Authority, the Commonwealth Utilities Corp., the Department of Finance, the Department of Public Lands, the Department of Public Safety, the Marianas Visitors Authority, Northern Marianas College and the Public School System,” the OPA said in its report.
