An internal audit conducted by Wilmar International on its subsidiary company, Oil Palm Uganda Limited has revealed a UGX 5.3 billion fraud within the company’s finance department.
The Audit carried out between January 14-31st and February 26th to March 14th this year by a team of auditors led by Wee Choo Peng and Emmanuel Atta Dick indicated the then Chief Finance Officer for Oil Palm Uganda Limited Janadhan Naidhu defrauded the company through making payments without documents and through stocks control and purchase.
According to the report some of the money was stolen through unapproved bonus payments, bank payments made without supporting documentation, construction and civil works with conflict of interest, payment made for no shipment of crude palm oil (CPO), Non approved trading stocks adjustments, spare parts stocks adjustments and un- cleared stocks in virtual locations.
For instance, Naidhu paid for uncleared stocks in virtual locations of up to UGX 621 million and conspired to steal up to UGX 525 million in Non-approved trading stock adjustments for crude palm oil, among others.
The special investigation engagement was planned and conducted based on the information received as a result of whistle blowing and the relating external audit investigation report issued.
“The objective of the engagement was to better understand the impact of the losses incurred and to assess and improve on existing company processes and control.” read part of the report.
The investigative engagement covered the Payment Portal Master Data Maintenance, Cash and Bank payments, the transportation of crude palm oil, Palm Kernel and Raw materials, Material movements, confirmations and reconciliations and, the construction and civil works.
The report faulted the renegade Chief Finance Controller of the company for among other issues awarding self-contracts under his company Janko Construction to build and renovate schools including Buswa Primary, Betta primary school Bwendero Primary school under a Corporate social responsibility done by the company towards Kalangala District communities.
It also indicated that “Additional financial losses may have been incurred and remain undetected in the absence of comparative market pricing and a result of overcharging to operate and do civil and construction works by Janko,” read part of the report.
The report also recommended that the mode of payment at Oil Palm Uganda Limited be modified to avoid such theft from continuing. Currently, the person responsible for the fraud Janadhan Naidhu reportedly fled to the United Kingdom.
The fraud at the Oil Palm growing and processing company was detected in 2018 and led to the resignation of Kodey Rao, the former managing director of Bidco Uganda Limited (BUL) a company that oversees Oil Palm Uganda Limited.
Abbey Mukalu, the Human Resources Officer for Oil Palm Uganda Limited neither denied or confirmed issues raised in the Internal Audit report. He however says, palm oil farmers are not affected by the anomalies at the company and their monthly remittances for the palm oil fruits sold to OPUL will be paid.
Oil Palm Uganda Limited (OPUL) is a subsidiary of Wilmar International and Bidco Uganda Limited. It grows and buys Palm Oil fruits from palm oil farmers in Kalangala District. OPUL processes Crude Palm Oil at the Mill which is later sent to the Bidco refinery in Jinja to make final products.
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