A female employee of the Department of Agriculture has been temporarily removed from her job over the handling of the department’s cash.
This was revealed by Director of Agriculture Lealao Mel Purcell during review of his department’s proposed FY2017 budget.
Senator Leatualevao Asifoa was questioning the director on the use of the department’s petty cash and what the ASG General Fund is for?
According to the Senator, many people who have gone to the department including himself have been told by office staff that checks are not accepted.
KHJ News understands that a son of the senator went to Agriculture to make a payment with a check but was refused by the female employee who has been suspended,
Lealao explained that currently DOA no longer uses petty cash and this in order to avoid stealing and mismanagement of money at the department.
Budget Director Cathy Saelua explained that all ASG departments no longer keep petty cash.
She did not provide any other details of when petty cash was discontinued not the reasons why.
