Sint-Lievens-Houtem (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Audit Flanders is investigating possible tender fraud in Sint-Lievens-Houtem. The municipality, represented by spokesperson De Knyf, is fully cooperating and has appointed a lawyer to oversee staff rights and procedures.
As VRT News reported, Audit Flanders has launched an investigation into possible tender fraud in Sint-Lievens-Houtem, in the province of East Flanders, Belgium. The audit authority has requested multiple files from the municipality that relate to recent procurement procedures. These documents cover several projects where questions have been raised about the awarding of contracts.
What is behind the audit of Flanders’ tender fraud probe in Sint-Lievens-Houtem?
In addition to reviewing the files, Audit Flanders has interviewed administrative staff and policy employees involved in the tenders. The discussions focused on how decisions were made, how bids were assessed, and how projects were managed. No conclusions have been announced so far.
It is not clear which files Audit Flanders has asked for in its investigation into tenders in Sint-Lievens-Houtem. The municipality has hired a lawyer to oversee the process. Municipal spokesperson De Knyf said the lawyer will monitor the investigation and make sure all procedures are followed.
“We haven’t received any information from Audit Flanders about what the investigation specifically entails,”
says De Knyf.
“They’ve requested several files. I’d rather not disclose which files they are.”
“They will monitor the investigation and safeguard the procedures and rights of our employees,”
says De Knyf.
“We are fully cooperating with the investigation, which will demonstrate that the tenders were always conducted correctly.”
Similar events have happened in Belgium before. Officials in Aarschot were under investigation in the mid-2000s for allegedly improperly awarding a waste-collection contract. From 2005 to 2007, several local government workers in Charleroi were under investigation for fraud and abuse of public funds concerning public bids.
