By Czarina Nicole Ong
Former Sulu 1st District Rep. Hussin Amin has been charged with three counts of graft before the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division due to his alleged involvement in the fertilizer fund scam.
(MANILA BULLETIN)baty
In the charge sheets filed by graft investigation and prosecution officer Alteza Anoso, Amin was accused of violating Section 3(e) of Republic Act. 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act alongside former Panglima Tahil, Sulu Mayor Nedra Burahan, Department of Agriculture (DA) director 4 Oscar Parawan, former DA chief administrative officer Abundio Bernardo Jr., DA accountant Ma. Perlice Socorro Julian, and Commission on Audit (COA) state auditor Abduljamar Ingui.
On April 26, 2004, Amin and his co-accused reportedly confederated with one another and caused undue injury to the government in the amount of P3,250,000, which represented the first tranche out of the Farm Inputs and Farm Implements program (FIFIP) fund allocation worth P5 million.
Amin, Burahan and Parawan entered into a memorandum of agreement (MOA) for the purported project of procuring farm inputs and implements of the 1st district of Sulu with Sunny Marketing Supplies.
Anoso wrote in the charge sheets that Sunny Marketing Supplies has a "dubious existence" and the agreement was entered into even without "public bidding, progress reports and proof of the project's implementation."
Simbajon, Julian and Parawan facilitated and approved the disbursement of the subject fund to the company by signing disbursement voucher no. 00001901 dated April 26, 2004. They did so without reviewing the work and financial plan of the project, contrary to the provisions of the MOA.
On the other hand, Ingui allowed in audit the amount of P3,250,000 without proper liquidation, therefore concealing the fictitious nature of the transaction to the damage and prejudice of the government.
On May 25, 2004, the amount they facilitated involved P700,000 for the second tranche. Then on December 28, 2004, the amount was P1,050,000 for the third tranche.
Their bail bond has been set at P90,000 each.