Dominican anti-corruption alliance demands forensic audits of ten state agencies

Santo Domingo.- The Dominican Alliance Against Corruption (ADOCCO) has officially requested that the newly formed Chamber of Accounts initiate forensic audits of ten government institutions, citing serious financial irregularities during the 2023 and 2024 fiscal years. In a letter delivered this week to the Chamber’s leadership, ADOCCO President Eduardo Valdez González argued that only a detailed forensic approach can unravel complex questions surrounding the handling of substantial portions of the national budget.

According to ADOCCO, the Ministry of Education must face scrutiny not only for how it procured goods and services but also for questionable contracts awarded to advisors and contractors responsible for reconstructing and repairing school facilities. The organization’s concerns extend to the Ministry’s affiliated agencies, including the School Infrastructure Directorate and the National Student Welfare Institute (INABIE), where ADOCCO alleges opaque spending on facility upgrades and student support programs.

Valdez González emphasized that forensic audits differ from routine financial examinations by employing investigative techniques—intersecting audit skills with legal and criminological expertise—to detect, document, and prevent fraud. “Handling large allocations without transparency fosters opportunities for misuse of public funds,” he noted. “Forensic investigations are the only way to uncover the truth and hold those responsible accountable under the law.”

The Ministry of Culture has also been singled out for apparent irregularities in its management of the International Book Fair in both 2023 and 2024 under former Minister Milagros Germán. ADOCCO claims that contracts for event production and vendor selection lacked the competitive bidding processes required by law, resulting in inflated service fees and preferential treatment for companies tied to political figures.

Meanwhile, in the agricultural sector, ADOCCO is calling for a deep dive into the Ministry of Agriculture’s procurement practices and its execution of the African Swine Fever (ASF) control program. According to the alliance, troubling questions remain about how contracts were awarded for vaccines, equipment, and veterinary services, as well as how funds intended to safeguard the nation’s pork industry were ultimately disbursed.

The Dominican Hydroelectric Generation Company (EGEHID) faces accusations of bypassing the Ministry of Public Works to directly award infrastructure contracts in San Cristóbal—contracts which, ADOCCO asserts, disproportionately benefit local construction firms linked to the company’s director. In parallel, the Agricultural Bank of the Dominican Republic (BAGRICOLA) has surfaced in public discourse over its alleged extension of loans to individuals who did not meet the bank’s established requirements. ADOCCO’s spokesperson indicated that these so-called “politically connected” beneficiaries received favorable treatment, calling into question the integrity of the bank’s credit evaluation procedures.

Other entities facing proposed forensic examination include the Public-Private Solid Waste Trust ([DO] SOSTENIBLE), which ADOCCO claims has engaged in ambiguous contracting and fund allocation practices; the National Institute for Teacher Training and Development (INAFOCAM), where program funding trails lack proper documentation; and the Salomé Ureña Higher Institute of Teacher Training (ISFODOSU), which has been flagged for possible unauthorized spending on academic and administrative contracts.

“ADOCCO’s request reflects growing public frustration with perceived impunity among officials,” said Valdez González. He stressed that, once investigations conclude, any individual found culpable of mismanagement or corruption must face legal consequences. “Citizens deserve transparency and a guarantee that public resources serve their intended purpose,” he added.

The Chamber of Accounts, which was recently reconstituted to strengthen oversight of government spending, now holds the responsibility of determining the scope, timeline, and methodology for these forensic audits. Under Dominican law, the Chamber is empowered to enlist external experts when necessary, meaning these investigations could involve collaboration with specialized forensic accountants and legal professionals.

In requesting these audits, ADOCCO seeks more than mere procedural reviews: it demands a comprehensive dismantling of opaque financial practices that erode public trust. By focusing on ten institutions that collectively manage billions in taxpayer dollars, the alliance aims to send a clear message: fiscal abuses, whether large or small, must not go unpunished.

Should the Chamber of Accounts greenlight ADOCCO’s proposal, the forensic audits would mark one of the most ambitious anti-corruption efforts in recent Dominican memory. As Minister of Finance welcome the Chamber’s enhanced mandate, stakeholders across civil society will be watching closely. For many, the outcome of these investigations could shape public confidence in government institutions and set a precedent for how the Dominican Republic handles financial accountability going forward.

With elections on the horizon and citizens demanding greater transparency, the Chamber’s response is expected to carry significant weight. If executed swiftly and thoroughly, these audits could serve as a powerful deterrent against future misuse of public funds—reinforcing the principle that no institution or individual is above scrutiny.

For now, the country waits as the Chamber of Accounts deliberates on ADOCCO’s formal request. Whether the forensic audit process begins this month or is delayed by bureaucratic procedures, one thing remains clear: the Dominican public is watching, and the call for accountability grows louder with every passing day.