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GECOM accounts clerk found with portion of missing $5M
Kaieteur News – An Assistant Accounts Clerk at the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) is currently in police custody after investigators recovered a portion of the $5 million allegedly stolen from the entity.
Guyana Elections Commission
On Monday, several employees from GECOM’s Accounts Department were taken in for questioning in connection with the missing funds.
Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum confirmed on Tuesday that the assistant clerk was found in possession of part of the stolen money. While he did not disclose the exact amount recovered, Blanhum stated, “A small fraction of the stolen money was recovered by detectives in possession of an assistant accounts clerk. He is in police custody. The probe is ongoing.”
The missing funds were reportedly intended to pay temporary polling day staff who worked during the September 1 General and Regional Elections. According to reports, the discrepancy was discovered over the weekend, triggering an immediate police investigation. The issue gained public attention after the newly formed We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party alleged on Monday that GECOM was experiencing financial irregularities. WIN claimed that over $50 million was unaccounted for and that multiple staff members had been arrested. However, police have confirmed the missing amount to be approximately $5 million.
The revelation has placed GECOM under public scrutiny, especially coming just weeks after the conclusion of the general and regional elections. The missing money affects the polling day staff. In preparation for the polls, GECOM had hired temporary staff and scheduled their payments for September 17.
Kaieteur News spoke with one such worker, who confirmed that payments were scheduled for September 17. Those who could not collect their payments on that day were told they could do so this week. Unfortunately, due to the ongoing investigation and the missing funds, those payments have been delayed.
Kaieteur News also understands that several temporary staff members who had already received their payments were short-paid, receiving less than the amount stated in their contracts. One such staff member shared that while she did collect her payment, she and others who received their salaries during that same period noticed discrepancies. According to her, between $5,000 and $10,000 was missing from the original amount they had signed for in their contracts.
Despite growing public scrutiny, GECOM has maintained silence on the issue. Public Relations Officer Yolanda Ward stated briefly that the commission is conducting an internal investigation and will issue a formal statement once it is complete.
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One thought on “GECOM accounts clerk found with portion of missing $5M”
THE BLUNT OF THE DAY
Sports
Features/Columnists
Sir. Ronald Sanders
The GHK Lall Column
Weekend Cartoon
So, the Asst. Accts. Clerk was taking, (not receiving) a kickback from the
workers’ pay- $5000-10000 each ?
What a slime-ball, robbing those election workers of their hard earned
wages ?