Another week, another political party ‘irregularity’

Santo Domingo.- Press and Law Foundation president Namphi Rodriguez on Wednesday said an Accounts Chamber audit found that the pro-government PRSC party inconsistently handled more than RD$112.0 million in funds from the Central Electoral Board (JCE).

Rodriguez’s revelation comes just one week after an Accounts Chamber audit also found “irregularities” in the handling of funds in the opposition PRD party, whose president blamed on the assault of its headquarters staged by a rival group headed by former president Hipolito Mejia.

He said the audit from January 1 to December 31, 2008, during Amable Aristy’s presidential bid shows that PRSC leaders wrote checks for nearly RD$8.0 million to buy 33 motorcycles and foods without receipts made out to the entity.

Rodriguez said the data were obtained via the Access to Public Information Law, on Accounts Chamber audits of political parties which get taxpayers’ money.

He said the PRSC paid RD$5.0 million for motorcycles and food on March 27, 2008, at supermarket El Reguero, in La Vega (central), which he affirms is linked to PRSC senior leader and deputy Ramon Rogelio Genao.

Unsupported expenses

In a statement, Rodriguez said the Accounts Chamber found that 63 percent of the RD$70.4 million the PRSC spent on ads in 2008 has no documents as proof of "competent evidence."

He said the receipts presented for that amount also lack the Tax Receipt Number (NCF). "There were some bills submitted on behalf of persons and none in the name of the institution."