Post by ukipa on May 5, 2014 21:21:41 GMT 4
The official corruption
The General Comptroller's Office just published its latest report, and between lines, front firms which got away with dollars came to the spotlight again. The following list presents the irregularities admitted by the Venezuelan Government
JOSEPH POLISZUK| EL UNIVERSAL
Saturday May 03, 2014 12:00 AM
1) FRONT FIRMS. At least a dozen of contractors from Venezuelan Corporation of Guayana received USD 12 million intended to process raw material, in the absence of mandatory requirements such as the registry of small and medium-sized enterprises. The General Comptroller's Office highlights that one of those millions of dollars ended up at an importer. First, the Minister of Finance, Jorge Giordani, and then former President of Central Bank of Venezuela (BCV), Edmée Betancourt, warned about the existence of front firms which obtained foreign currency from the State. Although the General Comptroller's Office does not address these accusations, and dismisses the names of the audited firms, it just confirmed that it knows of at least of a dozen of companies that got away with 45 contracts denominated in US dollars on resale of spare parts.
2) EXPIRED MEDICINES. Although the General Comptroller's Office has been warning since 2010 about medicine lots expiring at the customs, this time, it found out cases in which the Venezuelan Government paid for medicines in advance which were left over at the Servicio Autónomo de Elaboraciones Farmacéuticas, Sefar (Autonomous Service of Drugs Manufacturing). In its last report, it indicates the case consisting of 17 types of drug products imported once again by the Health Ministry, despite counting on more than 2.6 million of doses in stock. "It acquired the same drug products but in larger amounts, with percentage increments that go between 21.21% and 9,670.11% with no justification."
3) EXPROPRIATIONS IN THE DEAD ZONE. The Venezuelan Government disbursed more than USD 60 million to acquire the biggest food distributor in Bolívar state, Frigoríficos Ordaz (Friosa). Meanwhile, the General Comptroller's Office warns about the disappearance of a share of a vehicle fleet incorporated in the same company. It also draws the attention by warning about a list of 65 goods worth more than VEB 705,000 (USD 111,904.65) which were not even recorded in the inventory. Before being appointed as the Minister of Defense, the then Chief of Staff, Carmen Meléndez, requested an audit at Friosa company. As a result of this step, the General Comptroller's Office found multiple irregularities, ranging from leaks in the roof of the facilities to six out of the 14 refrigerators damaged.
4) A USD 7 BILLION LOSS. The General Comptroller's Office totals 4,381 building projects on hold, some of them have not even continued since 2006. It warns about a pile of buildings and public services at half way, for an outlay of USD 603 million.
5) RETIREES ON TENTERHOOKS. Instead of providing income, retirees and pension funds from Central University of Venezuela (UCV) and from other 10 universities are at risk. As a consequence, the social security is in jeopardy with regard to thousands of university professors who have been adding a percentage of their income for more than three decades. The pension funds are authorized to invest their partners' savings in financial and real estate markets, but in this case, losses of more than VEB 11 million (USD 1.74 million) have been found.
6) EMBEZZLEMENT AT HOSPITALS. Whereas in 2010, the General Comptroller's Office had denunciated delays in more than 100 projects of repairs, revamp and broadening of eight state-owned major hospitals, this time, it adds that many of the companies responsible have not finished yet the building projects despite being paid in advance.
7) FAILURES AT THE CUSTOMS. The General Comptroller's Office managed to document the loss of at least USD 78 million which several government agencies had to spend since 2007, because of the rotten food that appeared at harbors and airports, and the respective fines caused for being stranded at their customs. The General Comptroller's Office concludes that there were failures in a link that goes from oil holding Pdvsa, Pdval and Bariven to main customs of Puerto Cabello. Four years after the scandal, however, there exist no names of officers and companies involved. The General Comptroller's Office does not finger the perpetrators, but does reiterate that failures at the harbors and airports remain.
8) DIRECT AWARD. Transactions divided in several bills were found at the audits whose purpose was to review the accounts of the Ministry of Electric Power. Such transactions were made in order to award procurement and services directly to selected companies in the absence of take-over bids.
9) IMPORTED FRAUD. After eight years in arrears; in Venezuela, the more than 8,000 prefabricated dwellings promised to be built by the Venezuelan Government with imported kits from Uruguay continue to be reclaimed. By 2009, the General Comptroller's Office had already pointed out irregularities regarding the famous "Uruguayan houses." This case, in the meantime, is being dealt with by the two governments. Although the original agreement involved USD 155 million, daily newspaper El Observador from Montevideo informed last week that the Uruguayan Foreign Ministry just received a note of protest for USD 8 million.
10) ADMINISTRATIVE IRREGULARITIES. Internal audits of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB) present weaknesses and failures linked with the internal control system of the bodies attached to the Ministry of Defense. In its latest report issued by the General Comptroller's Office, Adelina González's office calls to optimize audits and controls inside military institutions with the purpose of avoiding public goods without regulatory identification or cheques on account of perdiem drawn on behalf of individuals. Seven organizations affiliated with the Ministry of Culture also present failures in a number of internal controls which go from the absence of an inventory of goods to errors in budget implementation.
english.eluniversal.com/nacional-y-politica/140503/the-official-corruption
The General Comptroller's Office just published its latest report, and between lines, front firms which got away with dollars came to the spotlight again. The following list presents the irregularities admitted by the Venezuelan Government
JOSEPH POLISZUK| EL UNIVERSAL
Saturday May 03, 2014 12:00 AM
1) FRONT FIRMS. At least a dozen of contractors from Venezuelan Corporation of Guayana received USD 12 million intended to process raw material, in the absence of mandatory requirements such as the registry of small and medium-sized enterprises. The General Comptroller's Office highlights that one of those millions of dollars ended up at an importer. First, the Minister of Finance, Jorge Giordani, and then former President of Central Bank of Venezuela (BCV), Edmée Betancourt, warned about the existence of front firms which obtained foreign currency from the State. Although the General Comptroller's Office does not address these accusations, and dismisses the names of the audited firms, it just confirmed that it knows of at least of a dozen of companies that got away with 45 contracts denominated in US dollars on resale of spare parts.
2) EXPIRED MEDICINES. Although the General Comptroller's Office has been warning since 2010 about medicine lots expiring at the customs, this time, it found out cases in which the Venezuelan Government paid for medicines in advance which were left over at the Servicio Autónomo de Elaboraciones Farmacéuticas, Sefar (Autonomous Service of Drugs Manufacturing). In its last report, it indicates the case consisting of 17 types of drug products imported once again by the Health Ministry, despite counting on more than 2.6 million of doses in stock. "It acquired the same drug products but in larger amounts, with percentage increments that go between 21.21% and 9,670.11% with no justification."
3) EXPROPRIATIONS IN THE DEAD ZONE. The Venezuelan Government disbursed more than USD 60 million to acquire the biggest food distributor in Bolívar state, Frigoríficos Ordaz (Friosa). Meanwhile, the General Comptroller's Office warns about the disappearance of a share of a vehicle fleet incorporated in the same company. It also draws the attention by warning about a list of 65 goods worth more than VEB 705,000 (USD 111,904.65) which were not even recorded in the inventory. Before being appointed as the Minister of Defense, the then Chief of Staff, Carmen Meléndez, requested an audit at Friosa company. As a result of this step, the General Comptroller's Office found multiple irregularities, ranging from leaks in the roof of the facilities to six out of the 14 refrigerators damaged.
4) A USD 7 BILLION LOSS. The General Comptroller's Office totals 4,381 building projects on hold, some of them have not even continued since 2006. It warns about a pile of buildings and public services at half way, for an outlay of USD 603 million.
5) RETIREES ON TENTERHOOKS. Instead of providing income, retirees and pension funds from Central University of Venezuela (UCV) and from other 10 universities are at risk. As a consequence, the social security is in jeopardy with regard to thousands of university professors who have been adding a percentage of their income for more than three decades. The pension funds are authorized to invest their partners' savings in financial and real estate markets, but in this case, losses of more than VEB 11 million (USD 1.74 million) have been found.
6) EMBEZZLEMENT AT HOSPITALS. Whereas in 2010, the General Comptroller's Office had denunciated delays in more than 100 projects of repairs, revamp and broadening of eight state-owned major hospitals, this time, it adds that many of the companies responsible have not finished yet the building projects despite being paid in advance.
7) FAILURES AT THE CUSTOMS. The General Comptroller's Office managed to document the loss of at least USD 78 million which several government agencies had to spend since 2007, because of the rotten food that appeared at harbors and airports, and the respective fines caused for being stranded at their customs. The General Comptroller's Office concludes that there were failures in a link that goes from oil holding Pdvsa, Pdval and Bariven to main customs of Puerto Cabello. Four years after the scandal, however, there exist no names of officers and companies involved. The General Comptroller's Office does not finger the perpetrators, but does reiterate that failures at the harbors and airports remain.
8) DIRECT AWARD. Transactions divided in several bills were found at the audits whose purpose was to review the accounts of the Ministry of Electric Power. Such transactions were made in order to award procurement and services directly to selected companies in the absence of take-over bids.
9) IMPORTED FRAUD. After eight years in arrears; in Venezuela, the more than 8,000 prefabricated dwellings promised to be built by the Venezuelan Government with imported kits from Uruguay continue to be reclaimed. By 2009, the General Comptroller's Office had already pointed out irregularities regarding the famous "Uruguayan houses." This case, in the meantime, is being dealt with by the two governments. Although the original agreement involved USD 155 million, daily newspaper El Observador from Montevideo informed last week that the Uruguayan Foreign Ministry just received a note of protest for USD 8 million.
10) ADMINISTRATIVE IRREGULARITIES. Internal audits of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB) present weaknesses and failures linked with the internal control system of the bodies attached to the Ministry of Defense. In its latest report issued by the General Comptroller's Office, Adelina González's office calls to optimize audits and controls inside military institutions with the purpose of avoiding public goods without regulatory identification or cheques on account of perdiem drawn on behalf of individuals. Seven organizations affiliated with the Ministry of Culture also present failures in a number of internal controls which go from the absence of an inventory of goods to errors in budget implementation.
english.eluniversal.com/nacional-y-politica/140503/the-official-corruption