After a management control mission carried out at the Kinshasa Higher Institute of Commerce (ISC), the General Inspectorate of Finance (IGF) recommended legal proceedings against the Directors General of the institution. Indeed, the IGF noted presumptions of misuse of power and public funds following the inability of ISC officials to provide supporting documentation for expenses incurred.
According to the IGF report, the institution was not able to provide the accounting basis for expenses totaling 34,587,785,748 CDF and 12,088,547 USD, nor the supporting documents for these expenses. This lack of transparency can be interpreted as a presumption of misappropriation.
The IGF also criticizes ISC officials for using sums of money intended for expenses other than staff remuneration, without consulting the union delegation. This violation of financial management rules may also be considered misappropriation of funds.
The IGF report also highlights the absence of supporting documents for certain current expenses, as well as the absence of discharge receipts for premium payments. These shortcomings reinforce suspicions of embezzlement.
In addition to these findings, the IGF notes that ISC officials took out bank loans without prior authorization from the supervisory authority, thus violating the financial rules in force. In addition, withholdings and repayments of Professional Income Tax (IPR) were not made in accordance with legal provisions.
Faced with these serious findings, the IGF recommends not only legal proceedings, but also strict compliance with financial management rules in public establishments. It is also planned that the report will be transmitted to the competent authorities, in particular to the Minister of Higher and University Education.
This case highlights the need for transparent and rigorous management of public funds in higher education institutions. It is crucial that those responsible for establishments are responsible and accountable for their financial actions. This will not only help prevent embezzlement, but also restore citizens’ confidence in the education system and public administration as a whole.