Cabinet Expects Forensic Audit Report in October

By Lagi Keresoma/

Apia, SAMOA – 02 July 2024 – The Minister of Finance, Lautimuia Uelese Vaai told Parliament that a report on the Forensic Audit is expected to be tabled in Cabinet in October, if all goes well.

The audit investigation is conducted by the Auckland based company Binder Dijker Otte (BDO) and out of 25 government projects set by Cabinet for the forensic audit, BDO is focusing on 13 matters first.

The Opposition Member of Parliament, Alai’asa Moefa’auo Sepulona asked for an update of the audit in parliament last week “especially if the HRPP Government stole from public funds.”

Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa explained that the intention of the Forensic Audit is not to find faults or accuse anyone, but rather for clarity after a change of government on where major development projects lie.

Fiame clarified that HRPP has been in power for almost 40 years and the last time there was a change of government, was when a Coalition government led by Vaai Kolone and Tupua took power between 1985 and 1988. HRPP had been in power since until the FAST Government took over in July 2021.

The Government then allocated ST$1 million for the Forensic Audit and advertised for independent auditors and awarded BDO the contract.

The Minister of Finance, Lautimuia Uelese Vaai said there was a delay with issues regarding the contract with BDO and payment schedule, but the work is now progressing smoothly.

Projects listed for Forensic Audit Phase 1 include:

• The Ti’avea Airport Project
• $50 Stimulus for National ID
• Sheraton Hotel & Bungalows Apia Beach Road
• Lease on the Samoa Airways Aircraft
• Newly built prison at Tanumalala & Savaii
• SNPF new headquarters at Salelologa, Savaii
• New Electoral Office Mulinu’u
• Samoa National Broadband Highway & SchoolNet Project
• Underground Cabinet Network Arrangement (MCIT)
• Satitoa Port/wharf
• Nafanua Patrol Boat incident
• Tax Invoice Monitoring System (TIMS)
• Purchasing of the Ministry of Works computers
• Purchase of two vehicles from Scholastic Books for MESC
• Instalment of electricity to Falelatai & Samatau in 2019-2020 & usage of EPC funds for election campaign
• Accountability for funds used by the former Prime Minister, Cabinet & the late Chief Justice under the Civil List Act
• Unforeseen & Unauthorized funds under the Act
• Tenders Board

The Minister of Finance, Lautimuia Uelese Vaai