Lottery board concerned over media leaks

The National Lotteries Control Board, now the focus of controversy over donations made to political parties, has voiced its concern “over the leaking of certain confidential results of audit exercises carried out over the past few months”.

In a statement issued by the director of the NLCB, it was stated that the board “is in no way responsible for this leakage”.

The statement also pointed out that on November 12, 2001, the permanent secretary to then minister of finance Gerald Yetming “wrote to the board querying certain excessive payments to members of the previous board”.

The NLCB said: “On coming into office, the new board had sight of that letter and certain other piece of correspondence. An audit of the NLCB was contracted out to Messrs Pannel Kerr Foster, with legal and compliance issues to be addressed by Messrs Alexander, Jeremie and company.

“These exercises were completed on July 12, 2002. The findings of the exercises are confidential and sensitive, and only intended at this stage for the use of the NLCB. Action has been taken, and further action is contemplated with respect to the matters raised in the various (media) reports.”