By Peter Stevenson
DEFENCE Minister Fotis Fotiou stated yesterday that he will show zero tolerance if investigations into contracts with National Guard food suppliers indicate any illegalities or irregularities.
Detailed complaints were included in a confidential letter published by daily Phileleftheros yesterday which had been sent in August to the defence ministry’s permanent secretary Christos Malikkides by the ministry’s food supply coordinating official Mario Hadjiandreou. The three-page document was also forwarded to the auditor-general Chrystalla Yorkadji and accountant-general Rea Georgiou and listed 20 contracts from companies that supply food to the National Guard but which should have been rejected.
The contracts were awarded during 2011 and 2012 following three public tenders.
“In reference to the reports in the press which have emerged regarding the contracts for food supply to the National Guard during 2011 and 2012 I have immediately appointed a defence ministry official to carry out an investigation into the case,” Fotiou said.
The minister added that he had appointed the official immediately after he had been informed of the matter on August 13.
“Once the investigation is concluded and depending on the result, if there are any irregularities then we will proceed in seeking out those responsible,” Fotiou added.
“As defence minister I would like to stress that we will show zero tolerance if it is discovered that any irregularities or actions which damage public interest have taken place.”
Reports claimed that the offers contained documents that were submitted after the application process’ deadline with the intention of giving contracts to businesses which had won the tenders for a number of years.
“Offers which should not have been deemed eligible and should not even been evaluated by the ministry’s evaluation committee as they were missing necessary paperwork ended up winning public contracts,” Hadjiandreou’s letter said.
According to Hadjiandreou, documents and other required paperwork appear to have been inserted later into the offers as they do not carry the necessary seals from the tenders committee.
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