An audit carried out by the General Controller of the Nation shows irregularities in the handling of a RD$1.4 billion fund from January to August. The audit also points to the continuing lack of administrative controls in government in general. According to El Caribe newspaper, the audit exempts former President Leonel Fernandez from responsibility, instead blaming four men: the former Administrative Secretary of the Presidency Simon Lizardo; former Technical Secretary of the Presidency Temistocles Montas; former National Treasurer Ruben Peña and former administrator of the Banco de Reservas George Manuel Hazoury. Among the irregularities are instances of: -Issuing non-numbered checks -Cancellation of financial certificates from government institutions to transfer the funds to a special account managed by the Administrative Secretary of the Presidency -RD$144.9 million in disbursements for undocumented works -Payments for construction projects that were never started by the Ministry of Public Works, such as RD$20 million for an overpass over Las Americas at the Cyberpark intersection, among other irregularities. The audit also inquires into the whereabouts of RD$45 million missing from a loan of RD$435 million granted by the Banco de Reservas for reconstruction after Hurricane Georges.
