The Public Works department has recovered hundreds of thousands of pesos worth of equipment from ex-employees and contractors under the last government. The current director, Jaime Duran, told the news media that when he arrived at his post, the Public Works department had been “ransacked” and cleared out by employees before the change of government on 16 August. Similar “house-cleanings” were carried out in other government departments prior to the 16 August inauguration of President Leonel Fernandez. No prosecutions of any ex-employees found to have stolen state property have been reported.