20 Sep 2013

Solomons civil society group says health fraud extends to finance minstry

1:25 pm on 20 September 2013

There are claims that the Solomon Islands finance ministry will be found to be deeply involved in a one point four million US dollar fraud in the health sector.

So far eight people have been suspended following the discovery of financial irregularities involving Australian aid funding within the Ministry of Health and Medical Services.

The prime minister Gordon Darcy Lilo is reported to have said the misuse of such funds will not be tolerated and as part of a range of measures to stop further misconduct, certain procurement provisions will be amended immediately.

But the interim head of the Joint Civil Society Group, Barnabas Henson, says it cannot stop there.

"The funds that are in question are held in under an accountable kind of cash grant arrangement between the donor, which I believe is AusAid, and the Solomons government and it's part of health sector programme funding assistance that is held and managed under the Solomon Islands government payment system which is managed through the department of finance."

The interim head of the Joint Civil Society Group, Barnabas Henson.