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  • MINURSO Second Report Leaked To ICP On Fraud in Hotels Used in Western Sahara

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    Matthew Russell Lee
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    On W. Sahara, ICP Has 2d Leaked Memo of UN Hotel Fraud, UN To Search & Toss Files By Matthew Russell Lee, Exclusive UNITED NATIONS, April 15 -- UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, tellingly though his spokesman Stephane Dujarric, issued a non-apology apology to Morocco on March 28, “regretting misunderstandings" regarding the UN's MINURSO mission in Western Sahara. On April 14 Inner City Press asked Ban's spokesman Stephane Dujarric about MINURSO documents leaked to it showing fraud in the hotels the UN uses, and is used by, in Western Sahara. UN staff leave their I.D.'s at the hotel, meals never served are charged for and taken out of Morocco's dues to the UN. Now Inner City Press publishes a second, even more detailed leaked document, even as the UN prepares to search and oust its files on April 16. This next document zeroes in on the Sahara Line Hotel and the Hotels Parador - Al Massira. What was the Moroccan government's role in this? Dujarric said he would respond to the documents. But the first one has been online for more than 12 hours. Stonefaced, walking out as questions are asked, Ban's UN of Dujarric and Gallach proceeds toward the search and ouster of Inner City Press' journalistic files. Here's what Dujarric said about these documents, Video here, UN Transcript here: Inner City Press: Couple questions about Western Sahara. One is, I wanted to ask you to confirm or deny that the UN system, in preparing its report on Western Sahara that's due this month, has provided a… relatively officially an advanced copy to Morocco for its comments. Spokesman: We consult with parties on reports. I don't… at the end of the day, it is the Secretary-General's report. It will have his signature on it. Inner City Press: But, they're being… basically given a written copy and asked to… to propose amendments. Spokesman: I think the report is the Secretary-General's report. Any decision as to what is in or out of the report will be the Secretary-General's. Inner City Press: If one side, like Polisario, says they don't accept that process and doesn't accept an advanced version, can it be tilted? Spokesman: As I said, it is the Secretary-General's report. It will be his opinion, and his only, that is reflected in the report. Inner City Press: Okay. And I wanted to ask you, I'd asked you before about this issue of mission support allowance in MINURSO [United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara]. And since then I've obtained some documents that I want to ask you about, including a report by Kim Bolduc to Atul Khare and Hervé Ladsous, stating that UN staff of the Mission were being charged or helping hotels charge for meals that they never ate. Those not based in Laayoune would go to use the services of Laayoune… and the reason I'm asking you this is the end of the memo says that, in fact, Morocco's payment for these meals is… is considered part of its assessed contributions to the organisation, i.e., it's taken out of what they would otherwise pay. So, this seems to be a pretty serious… definitely it seems that the UN believes that the restaurants… they say in the document that they asked UN staff to leave their IDs behind even when they went on leave so that the meals were still being charged from and taken from Morocco's contribution to the UN. What's been done about this? Spokesman: I'm happy… as a matter of policy, I know that staff who are given… who are provided with accommodations get that value taken out of their [mission support allowance]. On the specific cases you mention, if you share the document with me, I'm happy to take a look at it and try to answer the questions raised. Inner City Press: And finally, I… I… and I know… and… I have to ask you this. There was briefing about Western Sahara held this morning in the Delegates' Lounge. But, as you may know, with this reduced pass, I cannot enter there. So, I wanted to know, what… these claims that, i

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    On W. Sahara, ICP Has 2d Leaked Memo of UN Hotel Fraud, UN To Search & Toss Files By Matthew Russell Lee, Exclusive UNITED NATIONS, April 15 -- UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, tellingly though his spokesman Stephane Dujarric, issued a non-apology apology to Morocco on March 28, “regretting misunderstandings" regarding the UN's MINURSO mission in Western Sahara. On April 14 Inner City Press asked Ban's spokesman Stephane Dujarric about MINURSO documents leaked to it showing fraud in the hotels the UN uses, and is used by, in Western Sahara. UN staff leave their I.D.'s at the hotel, meals never served are charged for and taken out of Morocco's dues to the UN. Now Inner City Press publishes a second, even more detailed leaked document, even as the UN prepares to search and oust its files on April 16. This next document zeroes in on the Sahara Line Hotel and the Hotels Parador - Al Massira. What was the Moroccan government's role in this? Dujarric said he would respond to the documents. But the first one has been online for more than 12 hours. Stonefaced, walking out as questions are asked, Ban's UN of Dujarric and Gallach proceeds toward the search and ouster of Inner City Press' journalistic files. Here's what Dujarric said about these documents, Video here, UN Transcript here: Inner City Press: Couple questions about Western Sahara. One is, I wanted to ask you to confirm or deny that the UN system, in preparing its report on Western Sahara that's due this month, has provided a… relatively officially an advanced copy to Morocco for its comments. Spokesman: We consult with parties on reports. I don't… at the end of the day, it is the Secretary-General's report. It will have his signature on it. Inner City Press: But, they're being… basically given a written copy and asked to… to propose amendments. Spokesman: I think the report is the Secretary-General's report. Any decision as to what is in or out of the report will be the Secretary-General's. Inner City Press: If one side, like Polisario, says they don't accept that process and doesn't accept an advanced version, can it be tilted? Spokesman: As I said, it is the Secretary-General's report. It will be his opinion, and his only, that is reflected in the report. Inner City Press: Okay. And I wanted to ask you, I'd asked you before about this issue of mission support allowance in MINURSO [United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara]. And since then I've obtained some documents that I want to ask you about, including a report by Kim Bolduc to Atul Khare and Hervé Ladsous, stating that UN staff of the Mission were being charged or helping hotels charge for meals that they never ate. Those not based in Laayoune would go to use the services of Laayoune… and the reason I'm asking you this is the end of the memo says that, in fact, Morocco's payment for these meals is… is considered part of its assessed contributions to the organisation, i.e., it's taken out of what they would otherwise pay. So, this seems to be a pretty serious… definitely it seems that the UN believes that the restaurants… they say in the document that they asked UN staff to leave their IDs behind even when they went on leave so that the meals were still being charged from and taken from Morocco's contribution to the UN. What's been done about this? Spokesman: I'm happy… as a matter of policy, I know that staff who are given… who are provided with accommodations get that value taken out of their [mission support allowance]. On the specific cases you mention, if you share the document with me, I'm happy to take a look at it and try to answer the questions raised. Inner City Press: And finally, I… I… and I know… and… I have to ask you this. There was briefing about Western Sahara held this morning in the Delegates' Lounge. But, as you may know, with this reduced pass, I cannot enter there. So, I wanted to know, what… these claims that, i

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    MINURSO Second Report Leaked To ICP On Fraud in Hotels Used in Western Sahara

    Uploaded by

    Matthew Russell Lee
    On W. Sahara, ICP Has 2d Leaked Memo of UN Hotel Fraud, UN To Search & Toss Files By Matthew Russell Lee, Exclusive UNITED NATIONS, April 15 -- UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, tellingly though his spokesman Stephane Dujarric, issued a non-apology apology to Morocco on March 28, “regretting misunderstandings" regarding the UN's MINURSO mission in Western Sahara. On April 14 Inner City Press asked Ban's spokesman Stephane Dujarric about MINURSO documents leaked to it showing fraud in the hotels the UN uses, and is used by, in Western Sahara. UN staff leave their I.D.'s at the hotel, meals never served are charged for and taken out of Morocco's dues to the UN. Now Inner City Press publishes a second, even more detailed leaked document, even as the UN prepares to search and oust its files on April 16. This next document zeroes in on the Sahara Line Hotel and the Hotels Parador - Al Massira. What was the Moroccan government's role in this? Dujarric said he would respond to the documents. But the first one has been online for more than 12 hours. Stonefaced, walking out as questions are asked, Ban's UN of Dujarric and Gallach proceeds toward the search and ouster of Inner City Press' journalistic files. Here's what Dujarric said about these documents, Video here, UN Transcript here: Inner City Press: Couple questions about Western Sahara. One is, I wanted to ask you to confirm or deny that the UN system, in preparing its report on Western Sahara that's due this month, has provided a… relatively officially an advanced copy to Morocco for its comments. Spokesman: We consult with parties on reports. I don't… at the end of the day, it is the Secretary-General's report. It will have his signature on it. Inner City Press: But, they're being… basically given a written copy and asked to… to propose amendments. Spokesman: I think the report is the Secretary-General's report. Any decision as to what is in or out of the report will be the Secretary-General's. Inner City Press: If one side, like Polisario, says they don't accept that process and doesn't accept an advanced version, can it be tilted? Spokesman: As I said, it is the Secretary-General's report. It will be his opinion, and his only, that is reflected in the report. Inner City Press: Okay. And I wanted to ask you, I'd asked you before about this issue of mission support allowance in MINURSO [United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara]. And since then I've obtained some documents that I want to ask you about, including a report by Kim Bolduc to Atul Khare and Hervé Ladsous, stating that UN staff of the Mission were being charged or helping hotels charge for meals that they never ate. Those not based in Laayoune would go to use the services of Laayoune… and the reason I'm asking you this is the end of the memo says that, in fact, Morocco's payment for these meals is… is considered part of its assessed contributions to the organisation, i.e., it's taken out of what they would otherwise pay. So, this seems to be a pretty serious… definitely it seems that the UN believes that the restaurants… they say in the document that they asked UN staff to leave their IDs behind even when they went on leave so that the meals were still being charged from and taken from Morocco's contribution to the UN. What's been done about this? Spokesman: I'm happy… as a matter of policy, I know that staff who are given… who are provided with accommodations get that value taken out of their [mission support allowance]. On the specific cases you mention, if you share the document with me, I'm happy to take a look at it and try to answer the questions raised. Inner City Press: And finally, I… I… and I know… and… I have to ask you this. There was briefing about Western Sahara held this morning in the Delegates' Lounge. But, as you may know, with this reduced pass, I cannot enter there. So, I wanted to know, what… these claims that, i

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    TED NATIONS, NATIONS UNIES United Nations Mission for the Mission des Nations Unies pour Referendum in organisation d’un référendum au Western Sahara. NMINURSO Sahara occidental INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM. Confidential Reference: CMS/0235/2015 Date: 06 August 2015 To: Ms, Kim Bolduc Special Representative of the Secretary General and Head of Mission From: Michael Mulinge Kitivi "7X wanann——— > Chief of Mission Support Subjec Follow-up Fact Finding Exercise regarding October 2014 of Meals Provided by the Local Authorities ct Authorized Hotels Reference: - IOM SRSG 37 2015 of 09 April 2015: “Fact Finding Exercise Regarding Allegations of Misuse of Meals Provided by the Local Authorities at Authorized Hotels; and - OM CMS 0109 2015 of 08 Apfl_2015; Fact Finding Exercise Regarding Allegations of Misuse of Meals Provided by the Local Authorities at Authorized Hotels. Preamble 1 In order to establish a more precise and detailed picture of the status of meals provided by the Local Authorities (hereafter "LA") at authorized hotels, | have initiated a “Follow-up Fact Finding Exercise" (hereafter “the FFFE") regarding allegations of misuse of meals provided by the LA at authorized Hotels B. General 2. __ Due to the sensitive nature of the issue, only Mr. Alfred KESCHL, Administrative Officer (AO) has been involved. 3, __ The LA has provided Portable Document Format (PDF) copies of the Hotel and Meal Invoices (hereatter “the invoices"} for the month of October 2014 os follows: (a) Sahara Line Hote! Laayoune (Sl): Attached as Annex A: (b) Oscar Hotel (OS): Attached as Annex B; (c) Hotel Emilio Moretti (EM): Attached as Annex C; (a) Hotels Parador = Al Massira (MAS): Attached as Annex D; (e) Hotel Laxouara (LK): Attached as Annex E; and (f) Hotel Nair Ville ING): Attached as Annex F. Maz. vareiG=215] Ines CMS, SPR, one ction: 4 tial [Number Page lots. Reference: CMS/0235/2015 Date: 06 August 2015 4, tis once again emphasized, no details ore available for any invoices prior !o October 2014. 5. The “invoices” contain both Hotel accommodation and Hotel meal data for the month of October 2014. However, for the purpose of this exercise, only the meal data was taken into consideration. Furthermore, at this time NO invoices have been cerfified for payment by MINURSO and therefore NOT been paid to the Hotels. 6. __Invview of the NONE payment of the invoices, there is at this time NO financial loss to the Organization. However, the reputation of MINURSO and the Organization has been tamished, ¢. Implementation 7. Comparison Charts (CC) {attached as Annexes G and H) has been created compiling various data from the following sources: (a) "Meals cata” is taken from the various meal summary sheets attached to the invoices (see Annexes A to F); (0) Acc Line: Is the data collected from the “Accommodation Roster" (ACR) provided by the Protoco!/Welfare/Officer [Pro/Wel/Offr). The ACR is compiled and distributed to the hotels by the Pro/Wel/Offr on a daily basis. A sample of the ACR for 01 October 2014 is attached as Annex. For ease of review and comparison purposes a summary sheet was consolidated for the month of October 2014 and broken down by hotel [attached as Annex J}: {c) ML Line: |s the data collected from the “Attendance Records for the Military and BMU personnel" (ATR) for the month of October 2014, provided by the Chiet Miltary Personnel Officer (CMPO). The ATR for October 2014 is attached os Annex K. The ATR indicates the “present location” of the individuals (see column (j for that parficulor month; (d) Purp Line* Is the data collected from the “Accommodation Roster” (ACR) provided by the Protocol/Welfare Officer (Pro/Wel/Oftr}, see Annex I: [e) CTO Lines the data collected from the “Compensatory Time Off" [CTO) records provided by the Chief Military Personne! Officer (CMPO), atlached as Annex Li () ARQ Line:s the data indicated on the actual Accommodation Request Form (ARQ) submitted by the individual; (9) MOP Line: is the data indicated on the actual Movement of Personne! Form (MOP) submitted by the individual (attached as Annex O); and (h) PM tine: Is the data indicated on the actual Passenger Manifest (PM) Prepared by MINURSO aviation unit and counter checked by the respective flight crew, attached as Annexes M and N. Page 2 of 5. Reference: CMS/0235/2015 Date: 06 August 2015 8 Upon entering all applicable data the CC was “filtered” to indicate the following: (a) Mutfiuse of MINURSO ID Cards for meals, in green shading: (©) Discrepancies on the invoices, in light blue shacing ; (c}_ Possible fraudulent use of MINURSO ID cord for meals), in ight pink shading: and (6) The CC attached as Annex G is with financial data, Annex H is without financial data. D. Findings 2. Based on the data collected there is a strong indication of possible misuse of meals provided by the authorized Hotels in Laayoune. 10, _ While all hotel in question indicate discrepancies, highlighted is what oppears to be an organized repetitive approach by SL and MAS to approach entilled persons (EP) to participate in an elaborate scam to defraud the Organization as well as the LA. 11, Below please find the summary of amounts actually submitted for payment, the discrepancies identified in the CC and the resulting difference: ‘August 2015 UN exchange rate: $ 9.857 8 42.178 44 5447398 zasi0_| § 23680 mao 7470 | §_rarsa | 3131 ssoonz3| wap worsois S102 12. Please note that this FFEE also covers MINURSO personnel stationed in Laayoune. Although not substantiated or proven, there are indications that hotels may have been requesting MINURSO HQ EP to: (a) __“Leave" there MINURSO IDs behind when commencing on leave / Compensatory Time Off (CTO) away from Laayoune. Upon doing so, the individuals in question receive either cash or free accommodation in Agadir; and (5) Avail of services in kind (Le. laundry services or cash rebates ("kickbacks). Page 3 of 5. Reference: CMS/0235/2015 Date: 06 August 2015 —. Conclusions 13. The possible fraudulent activities of individuals regarding the inappropriate access fo meals at authorized Hotels in Laayoune for the month of October 2014 is very well evident and clearly Proven. In order to obtain more detailed information, MINURSO would require investigative assistance from the LA and O10S, 14. While there is a "grey area” regarding the duplication of meals taken as well as in adequate recording keeping by the hotels, itis clear that there is a massive effort by the hotels as well as certain EP to abuse the meals provided. 15. _This FFFE only reflects discrepancies for the month of October 2014 in the amount of US$ 53,023.23. As this elaborate scam may have been going on for several years now, the damage (difference) could be in the millions of US dollars. We will never be able to asceriain the actual financial damage prior to October 2014, as there are no detailed records available. 16. _ MINURSO is currently in the process of establishing a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) covering Hote! accommodations and meals provided by the Local Authorities. Deadline for submission is 01 October 2015. 17. __Aviable option would be to establish a MSA rate which includes meals. There would be one rate for the entire Mission. At the Team Sites there would be no meal portion deduction, in order to compensate for the hardship and shared faciilies. On the other hand the provision of meals at Hotels at Laayoune, and Dakhiah would cease. 18. Arevised MSA option would immediately stop alll fraudulent activity and reduce the ‘administrative supervision required, Since the Organization has been paying excessive meal claims, these funds can be removed trom the "rations" portion of the budget to the "MSA" portion of the budget, without any overall budget increase. 19, Thank you for your support in this matter. 20. Best regards. Page 4 of 5. Annex E: Annex F: Annex G: Annex H: Annex |: Annex J: Annex k: Abreviations: ACR AO ARQ ATR cc cMPO. cro EM EP FFFE Io 1A ik MAS NG os PDF PRO/WEL/Otir SL SOP Reference: CMS/0235/2015 Date: 06 August 2015 Sohara Line Hotel Laayoune, October 2014 (15 pages) Oscar Hotel. October 2014 (06 pages). Hotel Emilio Moretti, October 2014 (11 pages) Hotels Parador - Al Massira, October 2014 (18 pages). Hotel Lakovara, October 2014 (12 pages). Hotel Nagiir Vile, October 2014 (05 pages). ‘Comparison Chart, WITH financial data, (42 pages) Comparison Chart, NO financial data, (42 pages). Accommodation Roster sample 01 October 2014, (06 pages}. Accommodation Roster October 2014 summary sheets, (08 pages). Attendance Records for the Military and BMU personnel”, October 2014, (06 pages) Compensatory Time Off records, (05 pages). Passenger Manifest, UNO967, (20 pages) Passenger Manifest, UNO968, (23 pages) Movement of Personnel Forms October 2014, (batch 1, 20 pages; batch 2, 27 pages; batch 3, 29 pages; batch 4, 27 pages: batch 5, 38 pages; batch 6, 26 pages: batch 7, 32 pages). Accommodation Roster Administrative Officer Accommodation Request Form Attendance Records Comparison Chart Chief Military Personnel Officer Compensatory Time Off Hotel Emilio Moretti Entitled Persons Follow-up Fact Finding Exercise Inter Office Memorandum Local Authorities Hotel Lakouara, Hotels Parador - Al Massira Hotel Nagi Ville Oscar Hote! Portable Document Format Protocol/Welfare/Officer Sahara Line Hotel Laayoune ‘Standard Operation Procedure Page Sof 5.

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