Comptroller: adverse opinion on UPR-Arecibo over teacher-workshop scheme

On June 14, 2018, the Office of the Comptroller published Audit Report CP-18-13 on the University of Puerto Rico at Arecibo (Unit 3061). The June 25 release summarizes an adverse opinion on disbursements tied to seven DECEP workshops for Department of Education teachers.

Between May 31 and September 8, 2011, UPR-Arecibo formalized four contracts with DE for $2,918,367 for workshops. From October 2011 to March 2012 it disbursed $800,841 to three hotels in the same chain (Hotel A $314,045 / B $342,418 / C $144,378).

Finding 1: auditors identified hidden expenses of $35,603.04 — alcoholic beverages, clothing, perfumes, spa and stays outside workshop dates — and a scheme in which officials asked hotel employees to alter invoices and supporting documents. Additional expenses of $3,828.71 at Hotel C charged to rooms are also cited. The Comptroller referred the matter to Justice and the Ethics Office on September 30, 2016.

On May 25, 2017, FEI prosecutors filed 63 charges against the then UPR-Arecibo chancellor and his son, the CRECE 21 coordinator, the special aide to the then UPR president and the then UPR-Cayey chancellor. The TPI found cause for arrest; on March 28, 2018 a judge found cause for trial. Cause/accusation ≠ final conviction in this note.

The audited period covers January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2013. The Report is the fourth and last for that unit in the cited series, with two findings and special comments on hotel participation and transactions linked to Central Administration / UPR-Utuado.

Adverse opinion ≠ theft booked as federal reconstruction disbursement. Primary: CP-18-13 / OCPR release. Cousin: none.