The Commission Against Corruption (CCAC) is investigating both a current and a former chief from the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau (IACM) for abuse of power.
Reportedly, the two public servants covered for two of their subordinates who repeatedly arrived late for work and left early between 2011 and 2014.
As such behavior constitutes an abuse of power under the Penal Code, the case has been referred to the Public Prosecutions Office, according to a CCAC statement.
Under IACM staff regulations and in accordance with its internal attendance policy, such tardiness and early departure should be considered unjustified absences.
However, despite this, the two IACM chiefs, who had become aware of the actions of the two subordinates, willfully did not fulfill their duties and obligations as chief.
For four continuous years, the two chiefs did not take any measures to stop the unacceptable behavior of their subordinates, nor did they inform their superior about the issue.
CCAC stated that the chiefs continuously allowed their subordinates to be tardy and to leave early as they pleased.
During CCAC’s investigation, one of the two chiefs involved attempted to conceal his actions by accepting several dozen absence records without proper evidence or justifiable explanation, albeit with the knowledge that such an act is against proper legal procedure.
According to the relevant provisions of the public servant ordinance, unjustified absences will lead to forfeiture of remuneration corresponding to the days of absence, in addition to any other disciplinary consequences.
Over a period of four years, the two IACM public servants were found to have over 600 unjustified absences. Due to the concealment of their behavior by the two chiefs, the IACM continued to pay the workers in full. Reportedly that lead to a direct loss of around MOP550,000 to the MSAR.
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