The internal control system of the defense ministry could be "corrupted", according to the conclusions of a report written at Antwerp Management School. De Standaard and Gazet van Antwerpen revealed on Monday that the work was done in 2017 by Jimmy Van de Putte, an employee at the air force, and discusses possible manipulations of information within the military.
During his investigation, the author, who has been working with planning and project managing for 30 years, conducted interviews with personnel in key positions. Personal and career interests, as well as the organization's culture, lead employees to corrupt the control system, he concludes.
"One of the controllers even described the control system as 'window dressing'," according to Van de Putte who sees himself as a “rebel”.
The author mentions the risk of manipulation in the audit file for the delivery of the fighter aircraft F16. The Federal Internal Audit Service (FAI) had to study the regulations and procedures of the defense ministry in a very short time.
"Federal auditors are probably assisted by military staff, which is another risk of manipulation." On the other hand, auditors would normally be seconded by experts in the areas they are auditing.
The Brussels Times
