General News of Tuesday, 29 March 2016

Source: kasapafmonline.com

A-G Department's Principal Accountant in alleged fraud

Attorney-General, Marrietta Brew Appiah Attorney-General, Marrietta Brew Appiah

US$163,510 fraud has hit the Attorney-General's Department with the political head of the Unit recommending the immediate arrest of their Principal Accountant.

Tahiru Haruna, according to a 2014 Auditor-General’s report, fictitiously diverted the US$163,510 belonging to the State into a private account for his personal use.

Haruna, the report revealed, first paid six cheques (Nos. 402560-402565) totaling US$13,510 and issued on October 8, 2013, into a dormant DANIDA Business Reform Account with No. 1028631585014 and later (October 10, 2013) into the Green Zone Construction Company Limited account with Access Bank.

The Principal Accountant was again cited by the report to have transferred additional US$150,000 from the Attorney-General’s Foreign Account in the Green Zone Construction Company Limited bank accounts on January 11, 2013, for no work done.

This fraudulent act, the report added, happened on the blind side of the Director F&A.

Haruna, the report recommended, should be made to refund the US$163,510 into the State Treasury while also instituting a disciplinary action against him, notwithstanding his transfer from the Auditor-General’s Department.

The Attorney-General, Marrietta Brew Appiah–Oppong, Kasapafmonline.com learnt, has advised for the immediate arrest of the Principal Accountant to face prosecution.