We have worked those issues at our Forum some have just disappeared - the FIU and NDEA

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THE IRISH SCANDAL

Monday, February 13, 2017

Now that the National Assembly has taken a break and everyone has had the opportunity to assimilate the vast volume of corruption and irregularities that have been exposed and which obviously have plagued the country for years, the aspect which has caused a fair share of surprise, if not disgust, is the role of the Irish in the FIU and the NDEA.

It first started with the most ridiculous notion imported into the Assembly that the FIU should have a CLASSIFIED building in Seychelles. Harbouring such absurdity, the director of the FIU refused to reveal the existence of an office block occupied by the FIU Irish officers.

It was only after being threatened by a member of the National Assembly with contempt of the house for providing false information to the effect that the FIU office was in the Central Bank and that the FIU had no other office, that he admitted to the occupation of a building block by the FIU. Finally realising how totally ludicrous the classified notion had been, he ended up inviting all the National Assembly members to visit the office building, to dispel accusations of illegal activities in the building.

It is believed that the Irish FIU officers had fooled the director and all staff of the need not to disclose the existence of the building for security reasons, in order to hide a private gym in the office building for the Irish officers, at the expense of taxpayers.

Moving from the ridiculous to the tragic, the FIU pretended to know all manner of things about Al Shabab in Somalia, which was in fact no part of their stationary mandate, let alone the fact that the CIA and other European Intelligence agencies do not have much of a clue what is happening in that country where no one has been able to predict or stop terrorist attacks in the heart of the country, within its capital.

With all that claim to intelligence information, however, all laughed when they did not have a clue who owned the land and building they occupied.

Then came the cherry on the cake of information, the Irish lawyer who was paid over 3 million rupees a year as state counsel handling money laundering cases, had not managed to obtained a single conviction for money laundering during all the years that the Seychellois taxpayers continued paying him one of the highest salary paid to a civil servant in Seychelles and many times more than his boss the Attorney General.

As if the above was not enough to shock everyone, we also learnt that the FIU has according to them embarked on counter terrorism activity which is also totally outside their mandate, let alone the fact that none of the Irish had any knowledge, experience or clue about counter terrorism. Blown out of our minds, we also heard that there were also entities overseas and locally who had been paid millions of rupees by taxpayers to provide intelligence information. This one was offensive as they were taking Seychellois for a bunch of lunatics, as we all know that Interpol, FBI, MI5 and other multinational and National intelligence agencies gladly exchange intelligence for free to combat international criminal activities. Only crooks are paid to catch crooks, so the Seychellois need to know who were being paid.

The Assembly should now seek the names of all those entities which are being paid as no one is convinced that there are any other agencies out there.

Another favourite pastime of the FIU was to write fake and filthy reports on individuals to present to gullible and naive state entities to influence decisions against persons seen as opposition supporters. All done to carry favour with the Government of the day to protect their undeserving and highly inflated salaries.

Finally, to give themselves importance and frighten government into believing that they were indispensable, they used scare mongering tactics, the most nonsensical one being their advice to government, as disclosed in the Assembly, that Seychelles was a high risk jurisdiction when in fact, with such low volume circulating in our banking system, we are of the lowest risk, never mind that Seychelles officially is not ranked as high risk in all international indexes. How the FIU managed to fool the Government for so long is indeed most baffling, using in the process expressions like de-risking, totally out of context as they did not have a clue what it really meant in the financial and banking world.

It is heard on the grapevines that many of the Irishmen working with the FIU and NDEA are leaving the country and if that is true, the Government and Police will have failed this country for the feeling out there is that all the Irishmen who have worked in the FIU or the NDEA should be immediately investigated and if it is too late, as all the Irish officers have gone, then Government has a duty to cleanse this country of the dubious activities of the FIU whereby most of the funds taken from the bank accounts in Seychelles were claimed to be taxes owed by those clients to foreign jurisdictions, but the FIU never fulfilled the sovereign obligation of Seychelles to remit such taxes to the countries to which those taxes were alleged to be due, but instead kept such funds and swindled all those countries while the Government closed its eyes though clear evidence had been given that such illegal practises were taking place.

Government should now audit those funds taken by the FIU and to save the honour and reputation of this country, return such taxes to those respective countries, regardless whether they will laugh at us that our FIU were collecting taxes on their behalf with no proof whatsoever that it was due in the first instance, but only collected by threats and harassment.

If these countries do not accept such funds, then it should be refunded to its original owners as they had been cheated under false pretences. Government has in many instances been warned that FIU officials who were the watchdog over money laundering, were themselves engaged in money laundering when they took a part of the funds in the bank account which they alleged albeit falsely, was dirty money and allowed the owners to go away with the rest in order to get a quick buck without proper court proceedings.


The final question which remains is whether the government institutions duped by the FIU were simply stupid or were they in connivance. Only a proper investigation will reveal the answer which is essential to avoid a repetition in future when it is apparent that even the Central Bank and the Attorney General’s Chambers merrily went along with it all, with even the courts obliging by extending freezing orders for several period of 180 days to allow the FIU to embark on the fictitious tax collection exercises.

Source:Seychelles Weekly

Seychelles Financial Intelligence Unit
http://www.seychellesfiu.sc/

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[Sirop14]

REPORT ON THE SPECIAL AUDIT OF PAYMENTS BY NDEA AND FIU


Introduction

1. The National Drugs Enforcement Agency (NDEA) was set up under the Act 20 of 2008, which came into force in August 2008, to lead, manage, co-ordinate and implement the national efforts of the Republic to combat drug offences. Responsibilities of the NDEA falls under the Chief Officer appointed by the President under the Act. Effective October 2016, the statutory functions of the Agency was transferred from the President to the Minister responsible for Home Affairs vide S.I.73 of 2016.

2. The Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) was created under the Anti-Money Laundering Act, 2006 and was established as a Unit within the Central Bank of Seychelles. Effective 18 August 2008, the Unit was formed into a Body Corporate vide the Anti-Money Laundering Amendment Act, 2008. The primary objectives of the Unit is to monitor, train and enforce compliance by reporting entities with the obligations imposed in Part 2 of the Act. The Director of the Unit reports to the President, pursuant to Part 3, Section 16 ( of the Anti-money laundering (Amendment) Act, 2008.

3. The Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee requested the intervention of the Auditor General vide letter dated 27 March 2017, to investigate a number of payments made by the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) and the National Drugs Enforcement Agency (NDEA) from funds allocated in the national budget.

4. The FPAC informed that it was involved in an investigation and asked the Auditor General to provide detailed information on payments, specifically consultancy (local and foreign) and other fees made by the above two entities from 2007 to 2016 with with special emphasis on the remittances to two companies, namely, Solas Beo and Tech Ltd.

5. Taking into consideration the request, Office of the Auditor General (OAG) undertook a special audit of the accounts and records of the NDEA and FIU (Entities), as mandated by Article 158 of the Constitution and under Section 22 (1) of the Auditor General Act, 2010, in order to submit a special report to the National assembly.

6. The principal audit objective was to carry out sufficient audit procedures to establish as to whether (a) the selected transactions were relevant to the Entities ; (b) adequate and satisfactory books of accounts and records were maintained by the Entities in relation to the execution of the transactions; (c) the entities complied with the prescribed financial procedures (i.e. Financial Instructions, Accounting Manual, PFMA, 2012 and PFMA Regulations, 2014) and the relevant legislative provisions (i.e. tax and procurements); and (d) adequate internal controls existed in the Entities to ensure integrity of financial transactions and accounting records.

Methodology

7. The audit was mainly conducted as follows:
• Obtained all payment transactions from the Treasury Information System (TIS) relevant to the Entities for the period under audit (2009-2016);
• Selected transactions for further testing placing emphasis on foreign or local consultancy services of recurring nature charged to the account codes and significant and repetitive overseas procurements;
• Scrutinised the payments details in relation to respective payment vouchers, remittance advice, bank transfer payment voucher (BKTR), invoices, contract agreements and other supporting documents, including payment instructions to the Ministry of Finance. Further, Audit scrutinised the invoices to verify their genuineness/authenticity, relevance to the Entities and as well as the company details, contact information and bank account details of the payees.
• Assessed the processes followed against the prescribed financial policies, procedures regulations and the control environment;
• Interviewed the Director and the Head of Administration and Finance of FIU and the Director of Human Resources and Administration at the NDEA for obtaining information.
Scope limitation

8. Audit could not obtain supporting documents, such as, payment vouchers, invoices and other relevant documents in respect of 2009 and 2010 although the treasury system revealed some payment transactions for the 2 years. Thus the audit covered the details of payments for the period 2011 to 2016 only. Audit did not examine the records of the Central Bank of Seychelles to establish as to whether the foreign exchange payments selected from the Treasury records were actually remitted to the respective company/personal accounts as appearing in the relevant documents. Instead, reliance was placed on the BKTR documents raised by the Treasury for the payments having been effected. Furthermore, Audit could not obtain all the information it required from the Entities in view that the senior management personnel had left the Entities at the time of the audit.

Disclaimer

9. The report that follows discusses the exceptions that came to light in the course of the audit during the period April to June 2017. It is to be noted that mentioning of the names of any business entity, person, or an individual made in this report is without any prejudice or ill will to such persons but only for the purpose of better understanding of the issues arising from the audit. An audit report is not based on proof but sufficient and reasonable evidence collected during the audit exercise and as the matters appeared to the auditors with sufficient knowledge of government financial systems and procedures.

Summary of conclusions

10. A contract for consultancy service would typically contain terms and conditions of deliverables, timelines, fees, arbitration, etc. In the absence of the contracts with Solas Beo Inc, Tech Limited, Calendula, and Barry Galvin & Son (for the period prior to 05.01.2015) Audit could not determine the justification for the variable amounts paid to these companies.

11. The invoices for payments of services appeared to have been raised internally, for example in one instance, an invoice supposedly issued by Calendula was in fact on Solas Beo letter head with particulars of bank account of Calendula.

12. The nature of services provided could not be determined as they were not specified, nor had any reports been kept by both Entities as evidence of the services provided/received. Generally, there was a lack of documentation of services required and the receipt of such
services in support of significant financial transactions. However, if the documentation was done, then there was a failure to retain the same for future reference and audit purpose.

13. There were indications of significant management influence with limited scope for segregation of functions/duties in both Entities. All payment documents including Application for Payment in Foreign Currency – Central Bank of Seychelles (SWIFT) payment instructions forms were completed and submitted by the two Chief Officers (Head of entities), to the Ministry of Finance for endorsement and ultimately forwarded to the Central Bank for payment. It appeared that both Entities and the MoF approved the above applications for transfer of funds to various accounts in the absence of a documented proof of receipt of services as per the relevant contracts but only on the basis of the invoices.

14. Requests for exemption of the consultancy services from the procurement regulations, when submitted were approved on the basis that it stated “for reasons of state security”. Furthermore, the requests were approved on the basis of invoices, which was after the services have been delivered but not prior to procurement, as normally the case.

15. Where the consultancy contracts were drawn with existing expatriate senior personnel on the payroll and paid in Seychelles Rupees, it is not clear if payments on contract in foreign exchange related to extra duties/services or additional remuneration for the same position.

16. Calendula and Tech Limited were registered as International companies (offshore company-IBC) with the Financial Services Authority through a local agent and deriving revenue from and operating in the Seychelles. Although IBCs are not subject to tax, it is not clear whether these companies were liable to business tax.

Recommendations

17. According to circular No. 1 of 2015 issued in December 2015 by Procurement Oversight Unit of (POU) the Ministry of Finance, Trade and the Blue Economy and pursuant to Section 10(1) and (2) of the Public Procurement Regulations 2014, copies of signed contracts, which also includes the provision of consultancy services, approved by the National Tender Board (award Committee) must be submitted to the Procurement Oversight Unit. In addition, the Procurement Oversight Unit, Circular No 1 issued in November 2011, states that the POU will not entertain any request for “retrospective approval” for an adopted procurement procedure. The Procurement Oversight Unit must ensure that these provisions are applied in all procurement cases involving national budgetary provisions.

18. The Ministry of Finance must ensure that prior to endorsing the ‘Application for Payment in Foreign Currency – Central Bank of Seychelles (SWIFT)’ payment instructions forms for foreign exchange payments, checks are performed to ensure that valid contracts are available, amounts paid are in accordance with obligations and further, approval/exemptions have been obtained from the POU where applicable.

19. The Entities (FIU/NDEA) must ensure that appropriate documentation of the financial transactions are kept and procedures stipulated in the Public Finance Management Regulations/Financial Instructions are adhered so as to provide an audit trail as well as to safeguard financial records in good condition for reference in the future. These should cover fixed assets and inventory items owned and operated by the Entities.

20. Where there are doubts with regards to the liability for any tax by the IBCs registered in Seychelles, doing business in Seychelles and earning an income in Seychelles, the matter should be referred to the SRC for a determination. Similarly, the liability for personal income tax (PIT) of the personnel who were also on the payroll of the two Entities or elsewhere in Seychelles, needs to be established in consultation with the SRC. Also, the withholding tax liability of the non-resident legal service provider must be referred to SRC for a ruling. These are matters that would require the close attention of SRC as similar cases may exist in other governmental entities, particularly, consultancy services.

System outline

21. The Head of Administration and Finance of FIU was responsible for the accounting function and verifying all invoices for receipt of goods/services. The Director (Chief Officer) approved all invoices, payment vouchers as well as completed Application for Payment in Foreign Currency – Central Bank of Seychelles (SWIFT) payment instructions forms to be submitted to the Ministry of Finance. In the case of NDEA, Director of Human Resources and Administration was responsible for the accounting function and certifying all invoices for payment. The Chief Officer approved all invoices, payment vouchers and Application for Payment in Foreign Currency – Central Bank of Seychelles (SWIFT) payment instructions forms to be submitted to the Ministry of Finance. The Ministry of Finance approved the completed forms and forwarded them to the Central Bank of Seychelles for effecting transfers. Once effected, the CBS advised the Ministry of Finance/Treasury through a debit note which was used by the Treasury to raise the Bank Transfer Payment document (BKTR) and the relevant voucher to update the general ledger. It is from this ledger that Audit extracted the financial transactions for further examination in relation to their payment documents. However, the Treasury ledger did not show the financial transactions of both FIU and NDEA for the years prior to 2009 whereas for the payments effected prior to 2011 by NDEA the records were unavailable according to the Director of Human Resources and Administration of the Agency.
Solas Beo Inc

22. The NDEA and FIU effected regular quarterly payments to Solas Beo Inc, which according to online search was a registered company, incorporated in Mauritius on 10.12.2007 bearing company ID no number C076299. The registration address of the company was C/O Beresford Trust & Corporate Services Ltd, 1001, Alexander House, 35 Ebene, Cybercity, Mauritius. At the time of the audit, the offshore company’s status was Active. The Directors and Shareholders of the Company could not be determined. See Attachment 1 for relevant information.

23. The Central Bank was requested to effect payments to the beneficiary’s (Solas) Euro bank account (number 7643621) with the Barclays Bank, Seychelles, following the approval of the Ministry of Finance on the basis of payment request/instructions submitted by the Chief Officers of FIU and NDEA.

24. All payments to Solas Beo Inc for the period 2009 to 2015 by FIU amounted to SR 41,999,846 as appeared from the relevant documents examined while all payments from NDEA for the period 2009 to 2015 amounted to SR48,765,843, with a combined total of SR 90,765,689. See Attachment 2 for details of the payments examined.

Findings

25. Of the sum of SR48,765,843 by NDEA, Audit could not verify a sum of SR13,262,083 incurred during 2009 (SR6,111,920) and 2010 (SR7,150,162) in view that there were no supporting documents. See Attachment 2 (a) page 2 for details.

26. Fees invoiced for ‘expatriate services’ and corresponding payments had increased significantly over the years, from €47,500 in 2009 to €88,000 in 2015, in the case of FIU without a documented justification. In addition to ‘expatriate services’, also included on invoices were variable amounts ranging from €28,500 to €58,750 (FIU) charged as “special duties”. The same applied to NDEA with sums ranging from €97,000 to €165,000 per quarter. However, nature/details of the work performed were not specified on invoices or by way of reports or some other documentation.

27. Payments to Solas Beo were effected on a quarterly basis in variable amounts by both Entities. However, Audit could not determine the basis upon which fees were calculated in view that invoices issued merely stated “expatriate services” for the respective quarter and were vague, which did not permit the identification of the nature of services provided. Audit could not obtain the relevant contracts (or a valid copy of the same) stipulating the terms and conditions despite requests made to the Director FIU and the Director Human Resources and Administration of NDEA.

28. Of 20 payments made by NDEA, 18 were not supported by original invoices. Further, in all cases, information typically found on invoices, such as, contact information (telephone no., fax and e-mail address) invoice number and signature of the company representative authorising the invoices were not found stated on the face of the invoices.

29. In all instances, in the case of FIU, Audit did not find the approval of the Procurement Oversight Unit and National Tender Board nor were requests submitted by the FIU, contrary to the requirement of the Public Procurement Act, 2009 and Public Procurement Regulations, 2014, (regulations 9 & 11, Schedule 1) in respect of consultancy services. In the case of NDEA, in 14 out of 20 payments were without the approval of POU. Where the POU approval was sought, it was noted that, approval was sought retrospectively at the end of the quarter on the basis of the invoice and not prior to soliciting of services.

30. The Ministry of Finance approved ‘Application for Payment in Foreign Currency – Central Bank of Seychelles (SWIFT)’ payment instructions form was not sighted in one case and the relevant BKTR document was not sighted in 18 cases in the case of FIU. In the case of NDEA, the relevant BKTR document was not sighted in 7 cases.

31. In two cases of FIU, invoices paid in 2009 (i.e. 23.11.2009 for Euro 45,650 and 20.09.2009 for Euro 47,500) were signed by one Mr Joseph Cully as Director of Solas Beo. Further audit scrutiny revealed that in 2010, Mr Cully was on the payroll of FIU as an ‘asset agent’. The payroll for the year 2009 was not available for audit inspection to confirm if the said person was in fact in employment with FIU when signing the invoice on behalf of Solas Beo and the services invoiced were not already being performed internally by the said persons in post.

Tech Company Ltd

32. Tech Limited was registered with the Financial Services Authority on 01 April 2011 as an international business company (company number 088982). Although requested, Audit was not provided with particulars of the Directors and Shareholders by FSA stating that the information was not available on the company file. It is to be noted that the certificate of official search from FSA dated 28.04.2017 indicates the company as “not in good standing”. See details in Attachment 3. According to banking details on the invoices, all transfers were effected by the Central Bank on behalf of NDEA to a Euro account (2801001340302) with ABC Banking Corporation Ltd in Mauritius.

33. All payments to Tech Limited for the period 2013 to 2016 by NDEA amounted to SR18,421,559 as appeared from the relevant documents examined; details in Attachment 4.

Findings

34. It was noted from the invoices examined that Tech company was charging for “Project Development in relation to classifieds Project SRU” from July 2013 to Oct 2015 on a quarterly basis at a fee of US Dollar 142,548.76 initially which was then revised to €137,000 in 2015 and further increased to €137,740 in 2016. The nature of services as shown on invoices was “personnel, investigative and legal services”. The Agency, however, could not produce the contract (or a valid copy of it) with the above company to confirm the nature of services and other terms and conditions of obtaining such services.

35. Further, the contact details, such as, the complete address of the company, telephone numbers and email address and invoice number, which are typically found on an invoice were not included on the face of the invoices. The signature of the representative of the company was also not shown on the invoices. Further, 3 out of 10 invoices were not original but copies.

Calendula Ltd.

36. Calendula Ltd was registered with the Financial Services Authority (FSA) on 05 March 2013 as an International Company (company number 120570).Audit requested particulars of the Directors and Shareholders and was informed by FSA that the information was not available on the company file. It is to be noted that the certificate of official search from FSA (28.04.2017) indicates the company as “not in good standing”. See Attachment 5. According to banking details on the invoice, all transfers were effected by the Central Bank on behalf of FIU to a Euro account number (002801001340402) with ABC Banking Corporation Ltd in Mauritius.

37. All payments to Calandula Ltd for the period 2015 to 2016 by FIU amounted to SR13,060,944 as appeared from the relevant documents examined; see details in Attachment 6.

Findings

38. The Unit could not produce the contract ( or a valid copy of it) with Calendula for the Audit to determine the nature of services expected to be provided/received and the amounts payable according to the contract. The Unit received two invoices per quarter in variable amounts, one for ‘expatriate services’ and the other for ‘special duties and operations’.

39. Invoices lacked pertinent details, such as, complete address of the company, contact details (telephone, email address/website), invoice number and the signature of company
representative. The initial invoice dated 15.07.2015 for Calendula was an invoice drawn on Solas Beo headed paper which was crossed out by hand with the name “Calendula” inserted. See Attachment 7 for details.

40. Application for Payment in Foreign Currency – Central Bank of Seychelles (SWIFT) payment instructions forms approved by the Ministry of Finance were not sighted in 7 out of 13 payments made. In addition, BKTR document was not sighted in 10 out of 13 payments made.
Christopher Mooney

41. Mr Mooney was employed as a ‘senior asset agent’ with FIU from 01 October 2011 to April 2016 and was paid a local monthly salary of SR 27,069. Effective, June 2013, Mr Mooney received a supplementary payment of €15,000 on a quarterly basis, charged as foreign consultancy, which according to payment vouchers related to his services as ‘operation consultant’ to SeyPIC (Seychelles Piracy Intelligence Cell). Payments were effected to Mr. Mooney’s Euro account (0101043169) with Barclays Bank, Seychelles.

42. All payments to Mr. Mooney charged to overseas consultancy services, excluding salaries, during the period June 2013 to April 2016 was equivalent to SR.3,071,223, as appeared from the relevant documents examined; see details in Attachment 8.

Findings

43. According to his employment contract dated 28.12.2013, effective for the year 2014, his post title was stated as ‘Senior Asset Agent’ despite the relevant invoices showing as ‘Operation Consultant’.

44. Personal Income Tax (PIT) was not deducted and remitted to the Seychelles revenue Commission from the fees paid in foreign exchange in respect of which the employee would have been liable. Total liability for the period 2013 to April 2016 was SR460,683; (SR3,071,223*0.15).

45. Application for ‘Payment in Foreign Currency – Central Bank of Seychelles (SWIFT)’ payment instructions forms were not sighted in 3 out of 13 payments made.

Barry Galvin and Son

46. Barry Galvin & Son was a Solicitor, based in Ireland responsible for providing legal services to the FIU. Fees of €40,000 in 2013, which increased to €50,000, quarterly, charged by the above were paid to his account with Allied Irish Bank (22612010) in Cork, Ireland. In addition, Mr Galvin claimed for ancillary fees, such as, travelling costs, subsistence allowances and others, the re-imbursement thereof was also transferred to his account in Ireland.

47. All payments to Barry Galvin and Sons for the period 2010 to 2016 by FIU amounted to SR 18,319,967 as appeared from the relevant documents examined; see details in Attachment 9.

Findings

48. Other than a letter of appointment dated 05.01.2015, contracts with Barry Galvin & Son dating back to 2013, when the services were solicited could not be produced to Audit to ascertain the terms and conditions including amounts payable although the letter of appointment refers to a contracted services specified in Appendix 1, Appendix 2, Appendix 3, Appendix 4 and Appendix 5, which was stated to be Classified. Audit did not sight these Appendixes nor the contract.

49. In all cases, payments were effected on the basis of proforma invoices instead of originals which is contrary to the Financial Instructions 0520 which states no payment should be authorised unless payment vouchers are supported by the original invoices and/or other suitable documentation such as receipt, GRN and delivery note, etc.

50. There was no evidence to indicate that withholding tax payable on technical services fees by non-residents which would amount to SR2,747,995.13, see details in Attachment 10, was paid to the Seychelles Revenue Commission in accordance with Section 66 (1) of the Business tax Act, 2009, Section (3) of the First Schedule, had he been liable.

51. In 4 cases, the Ministry of Finance approved ‘Application for Payment in Foreign Currency – Central Bank of Seychelles (SWIFT)’ payment instructions form was not sighted. In another 5 cases, BKTR document was not sighted.

Local consultancy

52. One Mrs M.H was appointed as a Consultant Analyst with the FIU effective 01 January 2015 for a period of two years, at a fee of SR.30,000 per month according to a (undated) letter/contract. The role of the Consultant Analyst was to conduct due diligence checks of foreign personnel in relation to travel records, immigration data, work permits and other data available in the department of immigration according to an attachment to the letter mentioned above.

53. All payments to the above person for the period 2014 to 2016 by FIU amounted to SR 960,000 as appeared from the relevant documents examined.

Findings

54. No contract was available prior to 2015 despite payments commencing on 05.06.2014, which totalled SR240,000 up to the end of 2014. The contract was undated and signed by Mrs M.H only; the signature of the Chief Officer was not sighted. According to this letter she was entitled to leave at the rate 1.75 days per completed month of service, not to be accumulated beyond 42 days, implying that it was some sort of employment contract with FIU.

55. Narrative on the invoices indicated ‘general consultancies’ whereas details appended to the ‘letter of contract’ was specifically in relation to ‘immigration consultancies’.

56. Personal Income tax totalling SR144,000 (SR960,000*0.15) was not deducted from the payments totalling SR 960,000 made for the period June 2014 to December 2016.

Daniel Technologies

57. Daniel Technologies is a company in Ireland which supplies security equipment and uniforms to NDEA upon order. All payments to Daniel Technologies for the period 2011 to 2016 by NDEA amounted to SR6,947,386, which was paid to AIB Bank, Dublin (a/c 01610009) as appeared from the relevant documents examined; see details in Attachment 11.

Findings

58. In most cases, the original invoices were not found by Audit in support of the payments made and the supplier’s signature was not found on invoices. Further, the POU approval was not sighted in respect of 15 cases.

59. Various items of supplies paid for could not be traced to inventory records in evidence of receipt of the items purchased. According to the Agency, inventory records were not maintained, contrary to the requirements of Financial Instructions 1203.

60. In 10 cases, the Ministry of Finance approved ‘Application for Payment in Foreign Currency – Central Bank of Seychelles (SWIFT)’ payment instructions form was not sighted while the BKTR document was not sighted in another 25 cases.

Finbarr O’Leary and Thomas Quilter

61. Mr. Finbarr O’Leary was appointed by the Director (signed) as Deputy Director of FIU for a period of 18 months effective 02 April 2015, to cease on 30 November 2016. Similarly, Mr. Thomas Quilter was appointed by the Director (signed) as Director of the FIU under for a period of 24 months effective 10 March 2015. Both officers were paid monthly salaries on the payroll of FIU. Other than monthly salaries both officers received monthly ‘relocation allowances’ charged as consultancy services and paid quarterly. This provision was cited as being “in accordance with the overall service provision contract between State House and the Service Provider, Calendula Ltd.” Relocation allowances were transferred to the respective beneficiaries’ bank accounts in Ireland; Bank of Ireland (40931088) and IPBS (54208089).

Findings

62. Sums paid for relocation allowance varied each quarter ranging from Euro 4,700 to Euro 6,400 per quarter. According to the contract, the terms and rates of allowance was in accordance with the overall service provision contract between the State House and the service provider Calandula Ltd. However, Audit could not ascertain amounts payable as they were not specified in the respective contracts of appointment. Moreover, as the contract with Calandula was not sighted, Audit could not confirm the arrangements.

63. Personal income tax (PIT) which would amount to SR.76,059.30 (SR507,062*0.15) and SR. 132,205.80 (SR881,372*0.15) in respect of Mr Finbarr O’Leary and Mr Thomas Quilter, had they been liable, was not deducted from relocation benefits/consultancy services paid in the sums of SR507,061 and SR881,372 respectively. See details of payments in Attachment 12.

64. Mr O’ Leary was last included on the payroll in November 2016. He was, however, paid a gross salary of SR42,199.95 on 21.12.2016 which appeared to be an overpayment in view he was no longer employed by FIU. The justification for the payment was not documented on the payment voucher and supporting documents.


65. In 2 cases, the BKTR document was not sighted by Audit in respect of the payments made the above personnel.

http://seychellesvoice.blogspot.co.uk/2017/08/report-on-special-audit-of-payments-by.html

[Sirop14]

We are coming back t the FIU debacle - how many remembers then Central Bank of Seychelles working the President F A Rene in Office, Europe, the USA, Gulf Region - my person provided not just input but expertise to a large number of President FA Rene highly complex and complicated government Finance workings and Management - Events in USA, Europe, Asia and the Gulf Region - what we have termed abuses and the many correspondence to the UN and EU and the US. Then decision to set up the FIU in Seychelles some of the important issues we impute in and a document we will link here Report - the very clear and difference between FA Rene Government Fiscal/Finance management and that of JA Michel and he was under the supervision of then President FA Rene - President JA Michel, President FA Rene lawyers, other leading Justice personalities knew of this approach and practice. and the Why - what was happening we provided some of the major impute and then other sub entities would set up put together some program and Brand this Fiscal Management and the long list in the Report - we do not have time to into the details the point is that the current investigation of the National Assembly is very wrong - they lack the expertise to question and evaluate the reports they need outside advice. The Mr Affif who worked closely with the Central Bank was aware of those mechanism in place, President F A Rene Office and the Minister of Finance- AND BEING APPLY AND NOW HE TURN ROUND AND COMPORT THE WAY HE IS - HE OUGHT/MUST BE CHALLENGED VERY SEVERELY and may have to give up his mandate as an MNA. In which case this is part of the ongoing battle I ought to send in my Bill/statement of account to Seychelles government President Fa Rene Associates - I have never been paid a cent and those who took my knowledge and information and published these as their expertise and the public got fooled, the visiting experts of the UN East Africa and South Africa and the EU. - This was in part as did President J A Michel with cause the resignation of President FA Rene. PM Blair government was very aware of some of those issues. His visits to the Seychelles and the whys. They were not just Holidays. -

http://www.esaamlg.org/userfiles/Seychelles_Mutual_Evaluation_Report.pdf

[Sirop14]

Le Seychellois
August 31 at 8:03am ·
IT’S all about the Finance and Public Account Committee (FPAC) hearing into the FIU/NDEA Irish scandal in your special LSH edition this week.
In addition to our usual news, views and features, there are eight articles and two columns dedicated to the FPAC hearing held in Committee Room 3 at the National Assembly on Tuesday this week.
And keep an eye for the front page story on the mystery of the contract signed by State House.
Buy your copy early at the usual outlets.

Le Seychellois
August 31 at 10:55am ·
READ LE SEYCHELLOIS HEBDO THIS WEEK: Lise Bastienne signed the contract (But where did the contracts came from?), CBS Board classified FIU as ‘high risk’, FIU not aware doing business with offshore companies registered locally, FSA to take actions against IBCs which were doing business in its jurisdiction, SRC to go after FIU and NDEA, SPDF and Police made payment to Daniel Technologies, Who employed Barry Calvin?, NISA CEO resigns (AMPS calls for amendment in NISA Act), Seychelles is not big enough to warrant the risk, NTB disobeys presidential order, Former SVPD takes their case back to PSAB, COGA asked Ministry to wrap up SRC, Who, oh, who will be the next AG and many, many more stories. We also recap the journey of Hillary Joubert on the night she was crowned Miss Seychelles....Another World 2017. We catch up with the CEO of the Seychelles Agricultural Agency Finley Racombo who speaks about revamping plan for the local agricultural industry. Buy your copy early.

Le Seychellois
20 hrs ·
The Financial Intelligence Unit, FIU was once just a small unit under the responsibility of the Central Bank of Seychelles. But in 2008, this was changed and FIU became its own entity with its own budget. The change happened when the Irish nationals, mainly Liam Hogan, the first Director of FIU and his successor Declan Barber.
FIU was under the full executive power of the Office of the President. However in 2010 a Statutory Instrument, known as an SI, was gazetted transferring back some of these executive powers from the President to the Board of CBS.
However things did not go as smoothly because even if the executive powers were now in the hands of CBS, in practice this was not the case. The Governor of CBS, Caroline Abel said that between 2010 and 2012 FIU did not submit any information with CBS.
Giving a rundown of the situation following the SI, Governor Caroline Abel said back then the Board of CBS was ‘not comfortable’ with this arrangement and this was why they invited the Director, Declan Barber to make a presentation. This was in 2012.
She recounted how Barber made his presentation based on the FIU 2012 annual report, however there were two areas of their work which Barber refused to share any information with the Board. She said they were labeled as ‘security’ and ‘piracy’. Abel said that Barber told them that no matter what the law says, on these two issues, he reports ‘directly to the President.’
Because of these ambiguities, the Board of CBS classified FIU as ‘high risk’ for the monetary institution to play the role of oversight.
Asked whether these concerns were raised to the relevant authorities, Abel noted that between 2010 and 2012, she had not found any records of communications between FIU and CBS. But in the following years CBS has engage with the Ministry of Finance to try and address these concerns. She did state though that again ‘there is nothing written down but just conversation.’
“CBS is in hot water now because nothing was written down.”
As to the payments which CBS effected on the part of FIU and NDEA to these companies and individuals, Governor Abel said her staff is in the process of retrieving these documents which once compiled will be submitted to FPAC.
FPAC has asked CBS to try and get these relevant documents to them before they have to compile their final report.
https://www.facebook.com/LeSeychellois/photos/a.190167844380864.48522.189753581088957/1532415030156132/?type=3


Le Seychellois
3 hrs ·
The Finance and Public Accounts Committee (FPAC) hearing into the Special Audit by the Office of the Auditor General (OAG) is continuing at the National Assembly.
First organisation to be questioned this morning is the National Drug Enforcement Agency (NDEA) represented by its Chief Executive Kishna Labonte.

Le Seychellois
2 hrs ·
According to NDEA CEO, the organisation will have only R2.5 million for gathering of information in 2018 as opposed to R48 million budgeted during the Irish management era.
Kishna Labonte to FPAC: "We can have information for free from our international partners. We don't need to dpend that much to gather intelligence. There's also other companies we can outsource equipment and uniform from at a cheaper rate too."
https://www.facebook.com/LeSeychellois/photos/a.1533018120095823.1073742043.189753581088957/1533018096762492/?type=3


Le Seychellois
2 hrs ·
Questioning of NDEA's management by the FPAC is over. The overview is that the past management conducted business entirely with Ireland's based companies.
NDEA is confident that it can end the year with its current monetary allocation satisfactorily despite the budget cut by the National Assembly earlier this year.
The management is satisfied that most financial transactions carried out by the previous management could be accounted for but not all senior staff were au fait with the contracts the Agency had with all the foreign companies they were dealing with.

Le Seychellois
1 hr ·
Barclays Bank is claiming that under Section 49 (1) they are not at liberty to provide specific information about individuals or accounts.
However, under specific order from either the Central Bank, the Police or the Court any banks will make available these information.
Barclays Bank' stance is due to the fact the the question is taking place in an open forum.
FPAC is interested to know more about transactions conducted by Solace Beo which had contract with the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) and the National Drug Enforcement Agency (NDEA) and whose directors were also senior managers of the two entities

Le Seychellois
1 hr ·
The questioning of the Barclays Bank management by the FPAC is underway at the National Assembly.
The scoope of questions is expected to cover the transfers of money through Barclays Bank to foreign companies which had contract with FIU and the NDEA.
https://www.facebook.com/LeSeychellois/photos/a.190167844380864.48522.189753581088957/1533046720092963/?type=3

Facebook Comment -
Barclays Bank is claiming that under Section 49 (1) they are not at liberty to provide specific information about individuals or accounts.
However, under specific order from either the Central Bank, the Police or the Court any banks will make available these information.
Barclays Bank' stance is due to the fact the the question is taking place in an open forum.
FPAC is interested to know more about transactions conducted by Solace Beo which had contract with the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) and the National Drug Enforcement Agency (NDEA) and whose directors were also senior managers of the two entities. Questioning of NDEA's management by the FPAC is over. The overview is that the past management conducted business entirely with Ireland's based companies.
NDEA is confident that it can end the year with its current monetary allocation satisfactorily despite the budget cut by the National Assembly earlier this year.
The management is satisfied that most financial transactions carried out by the previous management could be accounted for but not all senior staff were au fait with the contracts the Agency had with all the foreign companies they were dealing with. The news from the same source that former Minister Lisa Bastienne will be appearing before the same Body - This morning the publication of the return of the Urmaji building/property back to its owners - formerly the SPUP/SPPF/PL Museum - yesterday we address a number of message to the younger generation of Seychelles and in particular the UN Youth Assembly of Seychelles - publication in the Nation and their Facebook asking them if they have never heard of that SIROP program if they have not then they must be living on another planet. Why are we saying this - we are writing this comment form Europe /Britain to be exact and the manner one/the public or officials if they so wish comment. The constraints, environment and other impacting issues reflected in their comment and contents - We have submitted to the Truth Commission of the National Assembly, beside the Anti Corruption Commission and Lawyer Pardiwalla,Twomey, Lablach, the European court, the UN , African Union beside the French and other European governments countless letters/email accusing those Seychelles government of abuses and the Officials and authorities involved against that SIROP program , the manner they have abused that exile/refugee Return program - One of the very important Body/organ of Seychelles government involved have been the FIU - again the many public comments and messages their very important Irish connections the white House, USA Service and other Institutions, Justice very aware, in Australia , Canada, Australia , Ireland, Britain, Strasbourg and Brussels - how they used the information they acquired form the Central Bank, President JA Michel office, the Police to hound and harass those of us representing that SIROP - Seychelles International Refugee -(repatriation)... program much more important how in the process of hounding us and blacklisting us - they used the many vital information associated with that SIROP program for the Irish government, Banking Sector, the USA, Australia, and Ireland =EU important workings and South Africa. Beside the mega Arab world Finance workings - We did not have a written undertaking and contracts t=with President FA Rene to implement this program under today Laws an d world Justice workings we have enough proof and evidence to proves we had a major./important undertaking with his them government and other Officials how other country Justice work - you do not prosecute and hound political opponents upon fabricated information and yet when it come to using that same information for economic,finance and other major benefits after you have used and abuse them they do not exit or there were not contracts. This is a unique opportunity for those undertaking this exercise to go deeper question the very workings,management and function of FIU. Because we have been lobbying for the past 25 years of the utter corruption which prevail and exist in Seychelles and - it was not that reported Mr John --- or MNA Larue who started these protest we from Europe with the little available media resource years in and years out - protests and bombarding the many in Europe and across the world - The corruption and stench of the abuse of that SIROP program goes way beyond Seychelles workings it is an international scandal - how those supposedly respectable bodies get set up to monitor Criminal and Terrorist and how they abuse and use their Powers and information and how they raid their respective interests and then what the they writes as facts and Justice and legal aspects of their workings and - those from the FIU involved in massive global European scandle of the EURO failure and collapse of countless very major Banking and European Monetary system workings - much more their link to the USA What is term/known as kick back and graft- Wikileaks have tried to follow up some of the issues. The few millions they have siphoned of in form the Seychelles is minuscule compared of their overall activities defrauding those 25,000 exiles , their Rights, Children, and Heritages. the corruption involves many hundreds of billions of USD. This would have been an excellent Opportunity to get President FA Rene to answer question - because you will be made to feel very ashamed sooner or later - it has taken us 25 years and nobody escape time and those who will dig and research and when they come with information that are very grave what they accuse and label such parties and entities. We have equally accuse the SNP, the LDS of corruption and involvements. President J A Michel shroud be directly questioned on those issue, connections and workings, The many publication of why we have published some of he information on that SIROP portal and there is a great deal more we have not - Important Russian, Chinese , Arab Nation workings including the much debated North Korea nuclear situation. The current Head of North Korea reads or get other to read our information and he get explained what they are all about - Including the BRICS issues, they are very ugly to use the words and phrasing of President Donald Trump. He know very well what we are writing here, the Indian government and big business equally involved. and then we cannot come to Seychelles we are informed if we do - we will see what will happen. What about the death - very long list, killings associated and then again the LDS, the PL and the SNM how they want these information to be processes if and how it suits them they setting Benchmark and values - the despotic and corrupt and distorted logic/views.

[Sirop14]

Le Seychellois
6 mins ·
Lise Batienne accepted that State House failed in its oversight role to ensure that the terms of the contracts between Solace Beo, Calendula and the State were followed to the letter.
More than R100 million in payment for services rendered cannot be accounted for as the original and second contracts are still missing.


Le Seychellois
14 mins ·
Lise Bastienne's revelation: The contract she signed in October 2014 on behalf of the State and Solace Beo and Calendula for security and other services was the third one. She said she is not aware of who signed the original and second contract.
She told the Committee that President Faure should do more to shed light on the matter.


Le Seychellois
1 hr ·
FPAC hearing: former Secretary General in the President's Office Lise Bastienne is up next.
https://www.facebook.com/LeSeychellois/photos/a.190167844380864.48522.189753581088957/1533066873424281/?type=3

Today in Seychelles
1 hr ·
Mrs. Lise Bastienne to answer questions in the FPAC.
https://www.facebook.com/todayinsey/photos/a.1322302131140927.1073741833.414719135232569/1434305003273972/?type=3


‎Jean-luc Obito Belle‎ to One Seychelles
3 hrs ·
11.15am Lise Bastienn pour vin kot lasanble devan FPAC.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=889861601163424&set=pcb.750909881784989&type=3

[Sirop14]

‎Daniel Cesar‎ to One Seychelles
1 hr ·
How much have been revealed in investigative terms by the once powerful Secretary of State? Are we any closer?
Image may contain: one or more people and people sitting
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1567760663287246&set=gm.750977238444920&type=3

Jemma Simeon No one knows where the two previous contracts are and yet she's being said that she's leading by example by the chairman for accepting to come before the FPAC.

Bernard Sullivan It looks like a dead end to me

Jemma Simeon If cohabitation was working they would have been given all the contracts. Sesel i pli gran ki nou just empty words.

France Maria We know there should be another 2 contracts, bring in James Michel, if we can't get satisfactory answers from him, then we draw our own conclusions for we already not what that will be 👍🏽

Bernard Sullivan I dough if he will come?

Jean-luc Obito Belle Getting there Daniel.. I believe calling Jpwason is the best choice. Surely!

Michael Mendes Does the FPAC have authority to summon the Irish gentleman to be questioned, since they are the other signatories to the contract?

Le Seychellois
2 hrs ·
Lise Bastienne's revelation: The contract she signed in October 2014 on behalf of the State and Solace Beo and Calendula for security and other services was the third one. She said she is not aware of who signed the original and second contract.
She told the Committee that President Faure should do more to shed light on the matter.


Le Seychellois
2 hrs ·
FPAC Chairperson Wavel Ramkalawan said former President James Michel should be called in to provide clarity in the FPAC investigation into the special audit of the Office of the Auditor General into Payments made by FIU and NDEA to a number of foreign companies.

[Sirop14]

All our forums thread on FIU have been deleted  and comments - can anybody look /ask as to why and those who have done this  -this is the second time
Lise Bastienne answering FPAC's questions
The former Secretary General in the President's Office Lise Bastienne appeared before the Finance and Public Accounts Committee (FPAC) today to answer questions about a contract she signed on behave of the President's Office with two foreign companies providing services to two state entities.

The National Assembly committee wanted to know about the payment details made under the agreement signed in October 2014.

Bastienne argued that the contract she put her signature to was the third such agreement between the country and the Irish companies and that the former president, his successor and the Irish directors of the companies should be called in to shed more light on what the committee is looking for exactly.


https://www.facebook.com/LeSeychellois/videos/1533159216748380/

[Sirop14]

The FIU-NDEA case continues: Barclays Bank says all due diligence were done
http://www.nation.sc/article.html?id=255566

The FIU-NDEA case continues: The missing contracts
http://www.nation.sc/article.html?id=255564

Cabinet business: Legal, policy memoranda discussed
http://www.nation.sc/article.html?id=255565

[Sirop14]

FPAC i kontiny son lenvestigasyon par kestyonn NDEA

http://www.nation.sc/article.html?id=255563

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