Ex-finance chief asked to explain expenses

Assistant Attorney General Allan L. Dollison has asked former Finance Secretary Antonio R. Cabrera to identify the individuals who had benefited from his misuse and misappropriation of public funds amounting to $74,307.59.

Mr. Dollison accused Mr. Cabrera of passing on his personal expenses to the CNMI government, which include a pair of imported Italian Ferragamo shoes worth $248 bought from DFS Saipan and $6.94 worth of donuts from Winchells Garapan.

During his tenure, Mr. Cabrera led an extravagant life which was financed by the CNMI taxpayers amid the decline in government revenue brought about by the slowdown in the island’s economy.

The charges filed by the AGO against Mr. Cabrera were based on the recommendations of the Office of the Public Auditor in a 1998 audit report showing misuse of funds by the former secretary.

Documents submitted by the AGO to the court showed that Mr. Cabrera sought a travel advance for a trip to the Philippines totaling $20,000 in 1996.

Of this amount, $10,000 was supposed to pay for a banquet held in the Philippines, yet Mr. Cabrera sought reimbursement of a hotel bill in excess of $13,924 for a five-day stay in the Hyatt Regency Manila, including the banquet fee.

Mr. Dollison asked Mr. Cabrera to describe the purpose of his trip to the Philippines from Dec. 9-13, 1996 and his travel to China in October 1996.

If he contends that the purchase of alcohol, cigars and clothes benefited the public welfare of the CNMI, he asked the former finance chief to support his claims.

Mr. Cabrera was reimbursed for the meals, liquor, beer and cigars he bought regularly in various local establishments in Saipan amounting to $32,006.31.

Personal expenses amounting to $2,522.48 includes bookends, utility box with seal, pens, shirts and suits, cuff links, tie, educational computer software and films purchased in Washington D.C., China and Hawaii.

Items bought from China were supported by invoices which were in Chinese and the former finance Secretary did not even explain the nature of these charges. The public auditor was only able to determine these expenses which were written in Chinese through a translator.

In using public funds for his own personal purpose, Mr. Cabrera violated the Commonwealth statute and the Constitution which provide that a public official can be held liable for funds or properties not expended for public purpose, Mr. Dollison added.

Based on documents submitted to the Court, the AGO said Mr. Cabrera mismanaged travel advances by claiming these expenses for official business. Apparently not satisfied, he even submitted the same receipts to seek reimbursement from the department.

Aside from this, Mr. Cabrera submitted unidentified expenses for reimbursement amounting to $12,603.47 which were mostly supported only by credit card receipts without sufficient detail. In addition, there were duplicate charges amounting to $2,356.76.

The former finance head received reimbursement for more than $6,394.42 in equipment purchased from various computer companies and electronic stores during his travels. However, not one of these equipment has been unaccounted for.