Double-entry accounting and extortion

A chief accountant of the Education department has been detained in Dashoguz. Inspectors identified double-entry accounts and a cash shortage of 1 800 000 manats (about $630 000).

A chief accountant of the Education department has been detained in Dashoguz. Inspectors identified double-entry accounts and a cash shortage of 1 800 000 manats (about $630 000). It is assumed that these were funds allocated to the velayat's school for renovations and to purchase supplies and equipment. However, the money disappeared bypassing educational establishments. At the same time and for many years the operating costs of the school have been covered by teachers and parents of students. They make financial contributions on a regular basis. For instance, parents pay 10 manats ($3,50) each month for school renovation. An official with the Ministry of Education says that sufficient funds are allocated for the repair needs and that principals of Ashgabat schools do not collect any cash from teachers or parents. However, according to our sources, this is not the case as extortions have become a common phenomenon in the provinces.

In the Lebap velayat 40% of schoolchildren's parents are unemployed. Families do odd jobs to make a living. Needless to say, they are unable to pay the school administration for paint, lamps, curtains, flowers etc but they are forced to do so in order to avoid problems for their children at school.

Returning to the case of the accountant's arrest, it should be noted that the velayat's finance department had previously inspected the accounting in the department of education earlier this year but no violations were identified. We have ascertained that the follow-up inspection was launched after a letter was sent to the higher-ranking authorities revealing violations by the accountant.

Based on the results of the inspection, the case was handed over to the public prosecutor's office.

Source: TIHR