(1) In this
section —
“authorised person” means a person
authorised by a responsible person under subsection (2);
“official loss” means a loss of
official money or official property;
“responsible person” means the Under
Treasurer or the relevant accountable authority.
(2) If a responsible
person considers that an official loss may have occurred in circumstances that
make an officer liable under section 49 to pay an amount to the relevant
authority, the responsible person may direct an investigation to be held by a
person authorised in writing by the responsible person.
(3) For the purposes
of the investigation, the authorised person has all the powers conferred on a
special inquirer by the Public Sector Management Act 1994
sections 12 and 13 and Schedule 3, and those provisions apply to and
in relation to —
(a) the
authorised person as if he or she were a special inquirer under that Act; and
(b) the
investigation as if it were a special inquiry under that Act.
(4) Within the period
specified by the responsible person, the authorised person is to —
(a)
complete the investigation; and
(b)
prepare a report setting out the relevant facts and findings; and
(c) send
the report to the responsible person.
(5) Without limiting
subsection (4) and subject to any requirements prescribed by the
regulations relating to the rules of natural justice (including any duty of
procedural fairness), the report may include a recommendation that the officer
be held liable under section 49 to pay a specified amount to the relevant
authority.
(6) After considering
the report and anything else prescribed by the regulations, and having regard
to all the circumstances of the case, the responsible person is to
determine —
(a) that
the official loss occurred in circumstances that make the officer liable under
section 49 and the amount the officer is liable to pay to the relevant
authority; or
(b) that
no further action is to be taken in relation to the matter.
(7) The responsible
person is to give written notice of the determination to the officer.
(8) In determining the
amount that an officer is liable to pay under subsection (6)(a), the
responsible person —
(a) may
have regard to mitigating facts or circumstances relevant to the official loss
or to the officer; and
(b) may
determine that the officer is liable to pay only so much as is just and
equitable of the amount that, apart from this subsection, the officer would be
liable to pay.