The Commission Against Corruption (CCAC) announced in a statement yesterday that it has uncovered a case where the head of a social service organisation fraudulently obtained Social Welfare Bureau (IAS) subsidies exceeding 13 million patacas.
According to the statement, the investigation revealed that the suspect allegedly set up a number of affiliated companies through relatives and friends. Since the organisation began its operations, these companies have consistently won multiple procurement contracts funded by the IAS – including for equipment and food supplies – by allegedly manipulating the bidding process through bid-rigging to inflate prices.
The statement also noted that the suspect used his or her authority to influence contract awards to obtain illicit profits.
The statement did not reveal the name of the organisation, nor did it disclose the surname and gender of the suspect
The suspect, along with the involved relatives and friends, is alleged to have committed fraud involving a ‘considerably high value’ under Macau’s Penal Code, the CCAC said. The Examining Magistracy (JIC) has ordered the person-in-charge to be held in pre-trial custody and imposed non-custodial restrictive measures on the remaining suspects, the statement said, adding that the case has been referred to the Social Welfare Bureau for follow-up
The Social Welfare Bureau announced in a separate statement last night that it is paying close attention to the case.
The bureau underlined that all subsidised organisations must strictly comply with the regulations governing the forms of support granted by the Social Welfare Bureau to private entities carrying out social support activities, as well as relevant procurement requirements, to fulfil their management responsibilities and ensure that resources are used appropriately. Those in charge of organisations must ensure that procurement procedures are open, fair, and impartial, and must not abuse their positions to influence contract awards or obtain undue benefits through affiliated companies, the bureau said.
The bureau added that it will continue to strengthen its management and oversight mechanisms, and further enhance integrity education and financial management training for managers and relevant personnel of social service organisations. This, the bureau said, would help prevent irregularities at the source, ensure the proper use of social service resources, and jointly safeguard the credibility and professionalism of the social service system.
This image downloaded from the Commission Against Corruption (CCAC) website yesterday shows its official logo.
