Overpayment of leave compensation completely paid off by Army Commander

Overpayment of leave compensation completely paid off by Army Commander

By fijivillage.com
Wednesday 20/02/2013
The Public Accounts Committee has today said in its report that the Army Commander, Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama has completely paid off the overpayment of his leave compensation.

After analyzing the Auditor General’s Special Investigation Report of 2009, the committee said 7 other senior officers have either paid off the leave compensation overpayment or have made arrangements through fortnightly salary deductions. 

People who have repaid in full are Lt Colonel Mason Smith and Major Sikuri.

The Public Accounts Committee said the balance owing for three officers could not be obtained. 

These officers are Commodore Esala Teleni, Captain Natuva and Major Narawa. 

Four officers who had underpaid leave have been compensated accordingly. 
    
According to the report, there were 18 senior officers who were compensated for leave, no one else. 

It also said that none of them knew that they were going to be compensated and it arose from Brigadier General Aziz Mohammed’s office.

The committee said the audit carried out by the Auditor General on the payment of leave compensation to the Army Commander and other senior RFMF officers were not wrong in law.

The Public Accounts Committee reveals that the major change came about in the 1988 RFMF leave regulation where soldiers previously enjoying 10 days leave got 24 and 29 working days. 

The committee said it equated to the same because in the past, weekends were not included as leave. 

The situation was similar with sick leave. 

For this, if a soldier did not exhaust the full 21 days, he could come back and take another 21 days leave even if he had used up his entitlement.
 
The committee said this was a drafting error in the legislation and has been corrected.


Story by: Vijay Narayan


Latest Videos

Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations

CFL radio frequencies
IN DEPTH
Girmit Celebrations 2023
The Girmit story isn’t a story confined to one community in Fiji, it is a story that belongs to all of us. This was highlighted by the National ...
7 days ago

Fiscal Review Commitee members, Richard Naidu and Vani Catanasiga appear on fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan
Fiscal Review Committee chair, Richard Naidu and senior member, Vani Catanasiga appeared on fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan to discuss ...
8 days ago

Prof. Prasad appears on fijivillage Straight Talk With Vijay Narayan
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Professor Biman Prasad appeared on fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan
10 days ago
FEATURE NEWS
We fully understand the concerns of the Army Commander on the application of George Speight and others - Vosarogo
Acting Home Affairs Minister, Filimoni Vosarogo says he fully understands the concerns of the Commander of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces, Major...
13 hours ago
LATEST NEWS
Nuku District School receives a boost from BSP Nausori Branch
Teachers and students at Nuku District School were full of smiles today after their school received a significant boost to their school facilities ...
12 hours ago

Congestion trial currently being conducted by FRA and Police from Koronivia Rd to Nakasi
For those travelling from Nausori to Suva get ready to face for some traffic as there is currently a congestion trial being conducted between ...
12 hours ago

Police step up operations to deal with robberies, drug dealing, glue sniffing and selling of stolen items
Police are stepping up their operations from this month following serious concerns regarding the increasing number of cases relating to attacks, ...
14 hours ago

FWCC received 569 calls for domestic violence counselling session
The Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre received 569 calls for domestic violence counselling sessions and 1331 calls for repeated counselling sessions from ...
14 hours ago

Govt looking at tax system that assists the poor – Pro. Prasad
Acting Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Professor Biman Prasad has revealed that there won’t be three VAT rates that people will have to pay ...
14 hours ago

TOP