THREE DAYS after the Ministry of Health launched a financial audit into the North West Regional Health Authority (NWRHA), police were yesterday called in to probe a senior official at the authority for possible misappropriation of funds.

Contacted yesterday evening, neither Ministry nor NWRHA officials would confirm or deny the reports. However, manager, strategic communications and advisory services at the Ministry, Kevin Garcia, promised that a statement would have been released explaining the whole matter. That release was not forthcoming up to last night.

When the Express contacted the official for comment on the accusation, the only thing they would say was, ’Ask the ministry, they will tell you all you want to know.’

When asked if they were being interrogated by police, the official added that ’I am at my office’.

However, chairman at the authority, Brian Sealy, insisted that no such investigation was going on because all financial decisions were made by the board at the NWRHA and they all knew ’where the money goes’.

The audit requested by the ministry, which is being carried out by accounting firm Ernst & Young Services Ltd, will review the authority’s internal controls and whether the procedures, processes and documentation for procurement and contracting are in accordance with the legislation and the documented procedures governing the NWRHA.

The move came days after an ongoing audit into the financial operations at the North Central Regional Health Authority, revealed that Dr Sanju Ross Gidla, who is attached to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex in Mt Hope, had received $844,026.14 in overpayments.

The payments took place over a 37-month period, ending last July. The doctor was given seven days to repay the money, but the ministry has since refused to offer any information surrounding the case, saying only that it was in the hands of the police.