The General Controller of the Republic, Victor Grimaldi, has begun an extensive audit of the payrolls of decentralized government institutions, warning that if irregularities are found the culprits will be prosecuted. Included in the audit will be the number of employees on each payroll, full and part time, dismissals, and retired employees on pensions. Mr. Grimaldi said that the Controller’s Office is currently working on the audit of the Ministry of Education, an entity that employs more than 80,000 and which was the object of accusations of fraud in connection with false construction contracts in 1995. He also said that he will pay close attention to the function of each employee, emphasizing that no one should receive a pay check without a well-defined job, something that many government agencies have been accused of promoting.