In June 2023, the Ombudsman Commission received a complaint from a primary school teacher during its Public Education Program engagement in Milne Bay Province. The teacher reported that an unauthorised deduction of K147.33 from his salary commenced on November 6, 2019 (Pay 22), and continued for thirty fortnights.
His 2019 pay slip indicated the start of the deduction, and his 2021 pay slip showed when the deductions ceased. The deductions comprised of four fortnights in 2019 and twenty-six fortnights in 2020, totaling K4, 419.90 (K147.33 x 30 fortnights).
Despite the deduction ceasing on November 16, 2020, after the complaint was raised with the relevant division of the government department, the teacher’s lost salaries were not refunded.
Upon investigation, the finance company involved advised that they had no dealings or records of any lending to the teacher since 2019. However, the company confirmed receiving payments from the relevant government department totaling K4, 419.90 on behalf of the teacher.
These funds were held in a suspense account pending appropriate instructions from the teacher. As there was no loan to repay, the finance company’s policies directed that these funds be returned to their owner. Previous attempts by the finance company to establish dialogue with the government department regarding the return of these funds were ineffective.
In February 2025, a follow-up by the Ombudsman Commission confirmed that the teacher had not yet received his refund. The Ombudsman Commission intervened, establishing dialogue with both the government department and the finance company.
Consequently, in March 2025, the teacher received his full refund of K4, 419.90 and subsequently wrote a letter of appreciation to the Ombudsman Commission.