The National Health Services (N.H.S.) is investigating the alleged disappearance of a large sum of money from its branch in Savai’i.
Speaking to the Samoa Observer on the condition of anonymity, a government source revealed that between $50,000 and $60,000 is missing. Up to 10 people are suspected to have been involved.
The source said that a delegation from the N.H.S. Audit Department in Apia was on the Big Island from 17 until 20 November to investigate.
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The General Manager of N.H.S., Leota Laki Sio, was contacted for a comment last week to confirm this investigation.
He said he was in Fiji and so it was arranged for the questions to be emailed to him. At the time of press, these questions remained unanswered.
Calls placed to the hospital to speak to his Acting C.E.O also went unreturned.
A follow up call placed to Leota’s mobile yesterday, was met with a message that his number was unavailable.
However, the source says this is not the first time this sort of theft has happened on the big island. Last year, two N.H.S. workers from Savai’i were jailed for stealing the nearly $60,000, with one facing nearly 300 charges.
Fugalaau Kuini, 43 years of age from the villages of Vaoala and Sa’asaai Savai’i, was a former employee of the N.H.S.
Ms. Kuini faced 290 counts of theft as a servant while working as a senior accounts officer at N.H.S in Savai’i.
She was jailed for three and a half years by Justice Vui Clarence Nelson.
Mrs. Kuini was jointly charged with Siufofoga Lokeni, who was N.H.S. Principal Revenue Officer for both islands. She was found to be involved in 2011 in Mrs. Kuini’s illegal actions. The latter was sentenced to 12 months after being found guilty of eight counts of theft as a servant.
According to the source, the new investigation is focusing on claims that the money was used by officials on themselves.
“They misused the funds instead of banking into the N.H.S account, they used it on personal things.”
“Now an official has been appointed and has bought this issue to the attention of the N.H.S.” In describing the alleged theft, the source said the staff used it like a loan scheme - which was stumbled upon by the newly appointed senior accounts clerk who then reported it.
“They used it without the authorities knowing it, then when this new person came she found it out because they were using money from the revenue,” the source said.
“You know the revenue from mortuary fees from dispensaries from the hospitals and consultation fees."
“One of the tactics they used was they altered the receipt numbers from the mortuary. “For example if the mortuary bill was $800 tala they would put a number ‘2’ on top of the eight so it looks like 200.”
The source says it is time for the Government Audit office to step in and investigate the issues in the office.
“It is the third time it has been happening and nothing has been changed.”
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