By: Eoghan Olkeriil Ngirudelsang

Ngchesar, Palau — A break-in at the Bureau of Agriculture’s Livestock Division in Ngchesar has prompted employee suspensions and terminations, officials said.

On July 14, the Bureau of Agriculture (BOA) reported to police that a safe was stolen during the break-in. “The incident is currently under investigation,” Justice Minister Olegeriil said, noting that suspects have been identified.

The theft revealed lapses in internal cash-handling procedures, according to Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Environment Steven Victor. “While the correct process requires that sales of animal feed must be deposited to the banks every week, however, the sales were never deposited since April until the safe was stolen,” he said during a press conference.

Victor estimated that over $50,000 may be missing based on sales from April to the date of the theft. “Investigations are ongoing to determine the exact amount that was lost,” he said.

As a result, four employees responsible for overseeing the deposit process were suspended. Two of the four were later terminated, effective Aug. 20. Victor emphasized that the disciplinary actions “had nothing to do with the safe going missing, rather it is because of the employees not doing their responsibility of depositing the cash, which resulted in the accumulation of the sales that are now missing.”

The BOA has also implemented procedural changes. Sales of animal feed will now be deposited in banks daily, and employees handling sales have been reassigned. Minister Victor added that the bureau is awaiting a new swipe machine or POS terminal, and starting in September, “BOA will no longer be accepting cash. All sales of animal feed will be transacted through electronic payments with a credit or a debit card.”