By The Star Staff
The Office of the Inspector General of Puerto Rico (OIG) filed a complaint against a former executive director of the Teachers’ Retirement System (SRM by its initials in Spanish), after uncovering suspicious acts in his reinstatement process and in the management of personnel during his administration.
The referral followed an investigation by the OIG’s Complaints and Investigations Area (QI) stemming from an intervention by the Pre-Intervention and Examinations Area (PIE).
The filing of a complaint by the OIG carries significant legal implications. It may lead to administrative sanctions, such as the nullification of the appointment obtained in an irregular manner, and the restitution of public funds, income and accrued interest. Furthermore, those who have benefited economically from the alleged violations may be required to pay up to three times the value of the economic benefit received.
On Dec. 22, 2023, the QI Area received an internal referral related to the possible misuse of functions by the then SRM executive director to reinstate himself in a career position. The referral originated from an intervention by the PIE Area, which identified various anomalies in human resources transactions from Jan. 1, 2017 to May 31, 2023.
The PIE Area’s examination revealed a series of irregularities in the former SRM executive director’s actions. They included job reclassifications and promotions carried out without internal calls, in violation of applicable regulations and the merit principle. Additionally, unauthorized appointments to positions of trust and granting of salary differentials were detected. As a result, a report was issued documenting questioned costs of some $665,842, resulting from deviations identified in administrative and human resources practices.
Subsequently, the QI Area conducted an independent investigation to validate and expand the information obtained. The investigation confirmed that the former executive director used the privileges of his position to benefit himself and other employees through a scheme of irregular transactions. Among the irregularities identified were the reinstatement of the former executive director in a career position without complying with legal requirements, the allocation of salary increases and excessive compensation through reclassifications without due notice, and the creation and filling of positions that were not contemplated in the central government’s Uniform Job Classification Plan, which contributed to the undue increase in payroll expenses.
Based on the findings, the OIG filed a complaint in its administrative forum against the former SRM executive director. This complaint includes possible violations of the Government Ethics Office Law, the Penal Code, the Anti-Corruption Code, and the Fiscal Plan Compliance Law, among other regulations related to sound public administration.
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