This is just a small part of the 220 million meticais that fraudulent schemes in the Interior Ministry cost the state treasury over several years.
An audit ordered by Interior Minister Jose Pacheco in 2005 brought the fraud to light - particularly the fact that wages were still being paid every month to 55 people who had died or did not exist.
"I have figures on deceased people who were still being paid", said Pacheco, adding that among other actions it was necessary to go through a physical verification of people and property in the ministry.
It seems that corrupt schemes in the Ministry had gone on for many years under Pacheco's predecessor, Almerino Manhenje.
The audit queried expenditure of 260 million meticais, of which only 40 million could be justified.
In addition to the ghost workers, the audit found over- invoicing in purchases, many of which lacked the necessary authorisation from the Administrative Tribunal, the body that oversees the legality of public expenditure.
The "O Pais" article names two officials believed to be at the centre of these schemes, the former head of administration and finance in the Ministry, Rosario Fidelis, and the former director of logistics Dinis Salomao.
The results of the audit have been submitted to the Attorney General's Office for further investigations.
SOURCE: AIM
