For the past two nights we've been tell you about a report that the Auditor General did for the AG's Ministry. The report - labeled "confidential" - was leaked to the media pointing to what is called "extravagant spending" on a weekend retreat for the Magistracy at Naia resort.
But the report was dismissed by the Public Service Commission for not following due process. And, the representative for the suspended Court Administrator Lovette Nunez - who won that dismissal calls the report a "witch hunt". She noted several irregularities with the case against Nunez - most notably that she never saw the audit report - until we aired it on Tuesday night.
Well, in a stage managed media appearance with the government press office, the Attorney General said there's no witch hunt, and her office will continue to pursue the matter:
Magali Marin - Attorney General
"The ministry will be challenging the decision of the Public Service Commission. We are of the view that the matter was properly before the commission, There were allegations supported by an audit report and we have a duty, my office has a duty to do all that is necessary to bring this matter before the commission. There are allegations of witch hunt within the magistracy, would you comment on that? There was no witch hunt in the magistracy. This matter commenced with the finance officer at the magistracy bringing to our ministry's attention certain alleged irregularities in relation to public finances handled by the magistracy. We then shared that information with the Auditor General, who then proceeded to conduct an audit at the magistracy. The written report alleges that there may have been misconduct committed by Ms Nunez and my office had the duty to therefore put this matter before the commission. For the commission to decide whether in fact whether in fact misconduct was committed by Ms. Nunez. I simply have a duty to put it before the commission. This is certainly not a witch hunt, I did not invent or create these invoices or these documents that were provided to me."
We'll let you know what happens when the matter goes to appeal. One experienced auditor we spoke to who read the report characterized it as, quote, "serial crime(s) against audit standards and procedures, reporting and basic ability to analyze information."
