Freilich Recordsdata Prison Criticism After “Million Greenback Justice Division Fraud”

On the coronary heart of the entire challenge is the way in which through which digitization took form on the Division of Justice. The division of justice was accountable, amongst different issues, for the companies of Bpost, with which they collaborated to gather site visitors fines. The so-called cross border celconsisting of Bpost and Justice employees.

The Ministry of Justice step by step gave extra orders to the collaboration platform, which supplied IT companies and was liable for the administration and administrative assist of the high-quality platform.

In line with Freilich, the foundations relating to public procurement weren’t adopted and the federal government paid for IT companies that turned out to be non-functional. Sure revenues, together with European funds, weren’t used for the meant functions, he stated. Freilich talks about “fraud price thousands and thousands”.

JustSign

A particular file within the lawsuit pertains to a specification given to Bpost in 2020 for the event of JustSign. That program was supposed to permit magistrates to digitally signal official paperwork. In line with Freilich, there’s a drawback with the way in which the job was assigned. There appeared to be a rush of labor, with some sort of draft values ​​getting the standing of ultimate values, with the signature of the Minister of Justice on the time, Vincent Van Quickenborne (Open VLD). It’s stunning {that a} low stage worker signed up for Bpost as an alternative of somebody from the administration committee.

Apparently he needed to transfer ahead with JustSign, because the Ministry of Justice nonetheless needed to make use of a finances supplied for the corona 12 months 2020. JustSign would even be utilized in recordsdata of susceptible individuals, for instance victims of home violence, which elevated throughout corona. However JustSign as an software has solely simply left the testing part.

In any case, it’s clear that there was a tradition throughout the Division of Justice through which IT cooperation with Bpost relating to the gathering of site visitors charges was stretched as a result of it appeared to be the simplest means. Bpost was requested to hold out extra IT companies with out market analysis.

Extra updates

FPS monetary investigators warned the Division of Justice that the 2020 contract stretched the cooperation too far and that future market session ought to happen. Bpost says that the way in which through which the federal government organizes its presents is as much as the federal government, and never the postal firm.

Bpost had a number of regulation companies conducting investigations on these cooperation agreements final 12 months. For instance, the function of the federal government treasurer (the 679 accounts), license plates and site visitors fines had been investigated.

A Bpost investigation in collaboration with the Ministry of Justice revealed that the particular person liable for the high-quality platform might have exceeded his authority. There was the saga of placing a tow bar on his automobile, the usage of the gas card and bills for enterprise lunches and additional meals for the workers. On the time, the Division of Justice believed that the supervisor had been unjustly killed throughout the Bpost investigation.

Accelerated digitization

Final 12 months there was additionally a joke in regards to the smoke that was blown in regards to the hire that was paid ​​for the workplace of the cross-border division. Justice then responded with the message that he would order a cross-examination.

Freilich, nonetheless, was capable of see the unique audit report and obtained certificates and different potential proof of irregularities within the recordsdata of sure authorities contracts similar to JustSign. It’s stated that the MP has a memo, amongst different issues, from FPS Justice managers, through which there are irregularities within the allocation of digital assignments. There are additionally questions in regards to the variety of employees despatched by Bpost to the Division of Justice. That will rely so much.

Beneath Van Quickenborne, efforts have been made in recent times to hurry up digitization after earlier failed initiatives on the Ministry of Justice. JustSign is only one hyperlink in a dozen “Simply purposes” that permit signing, consulting and forwarding paperwork. The Ministry of Justice labored with varied companions.

Extreme financial savings on central companies

The justice division has already taken steps to optimize its personal operations. For instance, the cross-border division (the high-quality platform with associated companies) was introduced into the administration, whereas it was once below the authority of the Minister of Justice.

Justice has additionally introduced that the twin work – IT companies and site visitors fines – will probably be divided. The intention is to maneuver IT cooperation away from Bpost. The postal firm would proceed to rule the high-quality platform right now.

On the recommendation of his legal professionals, the Ministry of Justice has reported potential authorized violations to the judicial police. The Court docket of Audit and the Federal Investigation Service (FIA) had been additionally concerned. Within the Division of Justice it’s stated that there might have been too many financial savings up to now on central companies and subsequently additionally on the power to hold out acceptable investigations.