Mr Imrith, you recently submitted some papers to the ICAC. What was your aim?

I was not comfortable with the way the ICAC was laying emphasis on procedures. For me, while procedures are important, the source of the finances is important too. Where did they get the money to buy MedPoint? Most importantly, was there a policy decision, and who took this policy decision? Were things done by the book?

How did things happen according to you?

According to the information I have, abinet decided to disburse Rs 75 million from the Lottery Fund and Rs 25 million from the capital fund of the Ministry of Health.

So 100 million rupees?

Yes.

But how did they know it was going to cost Rs 100 million?

Exactly! By coincidence, we see the first evaluation of MedPoint that was carried out by the number two of the Valuation Office. The clinic was estimated to be worth Rs 75 million. And this matches the Rs 75 million which Cabinet made provisions for.

Was that before or after the tender?

I don’t know but the figures match.

It is important to know whether it was before the tender or not.

We don’t have that information. This is why we are asking the ICAC to look in that direction. We are asking if the Ministry of Finance gave instructions to the Ministry of Health to use Rs 200 million from the capital fund of the Ministry of Health to buy the MedPoint clinic. We are concerned with the results of the investigation.

Why are you more concerned than the rest of us?

The ICAC carries out the investigation and we want to use the results and the problems being raised as part of the MedPoint issue as an opportunity to bring in improvements to the Civil Service by checking if the files are kept and the  “garde fous” in the public sector are sufficient to make sure that public funds are being used properly.

Interviewed by Touria Prayag

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