Missing Immigration Money Trail Leads to Treasury

Up to one hundred and fifty thousand dollars reportedly vanished from the Immigration Department’s Belize City office, and the search for answers has now reached the Treasury. The Ministry of Immigration called in the Office of the Auditor General in late June to determine how the money disappeared and who may have been involved. Auditor General Maria Rodriguez has now told News Five that her team is following the financial trail beyond the department as the investigation widens.

 

Maria Rodriquez, Auditor General

“I had mentioned to the management that they did not have the receipt on hand. So, unfortunately, we have had to go to the treasury department, the Accountant General Department for records and I think from the past three annual audit reports you understand that the records management system is not that good as yet. So, the team is at the Treasury Department collecting the records that should have been at the immigration department.”

 

Paul Lopez

“And that should provide some answers?”

 

Maria Rodriquez

“That should provide some answers yes. They are now utilizing the copies that are sent to the accountant general rather than the copies that should have been left at the ministry.”

 

Authorities have centered their primary focus on former employee Jason Flowers.

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

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