The General Controller of the Republic, Victor Grimaldi, is continuing his audits of several government departments. Mr. Grimaldi met with President Balaguer on 4 June to discuss the progress of the audits, which was not revealed to the local news media. Upon leaving the office of Dr. Balaguer at the National Palace, Mr. Grimaldi refused to discuss the case he presented against the Department of Industry and Commerce, which he accused of embezzling funds destined for the purchase of stoves for poor families residing in national parks so that they would not cut down trees to use as firewood. He claimed that the case is in the hands of the National Attorney General, Dr. Luis Nelson Pantaleon Gonzalez, who has said that the accusations lack sufficient evidence for prosecution. Mr. Grimaldi’s bold accusations against prominent members of the central government in connection with the funds for the stoves rocked the news media and provoked a mini-scandal before the Attorney General made his decision not to pursue the charges.