SINGAPORE: An inquiry by the Commissioner of Charities (COC) has found "severe mismanagement" at Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple, the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) said in a statement on Monday (Apr 30).
MCCY said the COC inquiry "revealed severe mismanagement in the administration of the Charity during the period 1 January 2011 to 31 July 2014", adding that it involved members of the management committee, who were the cheque signatories and approvers for payments.
The members involved were former management committee chairman R Selvaraju, charity trustee and current committee chairman Sivakadacham, and Ratha Krishnan Selvakumar, charity trustee and present secretary of the management committee.
The COC "noted severe lack of care and prudence" in discharging their duties, said the ministry, adding that the inquiry noted instances where the charity's funds and charitable assets were "placed at undue risks".
For instance, the key office bearers had "prevalently issued uncrossed cheques and allowed uncrossed cheques to be exchanged for cash in the Charity's premises". The temple issued uncrossed cheques totalling more than S$1.5 million between Jan 1, 2011 and Jul 31, 2014, 45 of which were cheques in excess of S$227,000 that were not issued to the names of the intended proceeds recipients.
According to the statement, Kumar had also obtained loans of S$350,000 without the management committee's approval and with no written loan agreements with the lenders. There was also "limited supporting evidence" of the cash from these loans being disbursed to intended recipients.
AdvertisementAdvertisementCHAIRMAN SUSPENDED FROM OFFICE
"Given the gravity of the Inquiry findings, under the Act and with the consent of the Attorney-General, the COC has suspended Siva from the exercise of his office as governing board member and trustee of the Charity with immediate effect," said MCCY.
For as long as he is suspended, Siva is prohibited from taking part in managing the charity or attending any of its committee meeting, it said, adding that the COC also intends to remove Siva from his office as governing board member and charity trustee.
"With regard to Kumar, the COC is of the view that Kumar should also be barred from his office in the Charity in light of his involvement in the mismanagement in the administration of the Charity," said the ministry.
"It has come to the COC’s attention that Kumar has been previously convicted of criminal offences involving elements of dishonesty", rendering him disqualified from acting in the capacity of a governing board member or charity trustee.
The COC has also promised enforcement action against Selvaraju should he resume any office in the temple.
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