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Show HILL TOP TIMES Friday, Nevmbr 22, 1985 eo item 71 New ways found to nail defense cheats The Department of Defense has asked Congress to establish an administrative penalty mechanism that would enable them to punish contractors who make false claims or false statements to the department. This administrative procedure would be in addition to or in lieu of criminal prosecution. Secretary of Defense Caspar W. Weinberger believes legislation in this area would provide a mechanism for appropriate government response to instances of fraud that occur, but are not now addressed by the government for a variety of reasons. One example that illustrates the need for a civil penalty authority is the contractor who operated parts stores on 10 different military bases. He illegally inflated parts prices on each contract. While the total fraud amounted to more than $50,000, no single base was defrauded of more than $6,000. Sometimes upholding the law can get in the way of enforcing it. Take the cases of some defense contractors who have defrauded the government. Investigators might establish that fraud has been committed but can't always establish guilt beyond a reasonable doubt to ensure a successful criminal prosecution. Government attorneys are reluctant to try a case in court if they don't think they can get a conviction. That's the way our legal system works -- and is intended to work. So, the offenders, though probably barred from receiving defense contracts in the future, might get off with no penalty other than paying back what they owed the government. However, a new set of rules that would allow a variety of penalties to be levied against companies defrauding the Defense Department outside of criminal court proceedings has been proposed. F Q Each case was presented to nine separate United States attorneys and was declined at each office be cause the dollar value was too low. Under the proposed legislation, however, this would change. If the Justice Department declined to prosecute the case in court for any reason besides lack of proof, the Department of Defense would still have a vehicle to recover amounts otherwise lost. An administrative penalty mechanism would protect the right to a fair and reasonable hearing for any person alleged to be liable and also would provide adequate due process for all parties concerned. Under the proposed legislation, federal agencies would not be permitted to proceed with administrative penalties unless the Justice Department had specifically declined prosecution under the False Claims Act or the False Statements Statute and had approved further proceedings. (AFIS) Statistics proving seat belts continue to save lives daily TTCOEDQ By Sgt. Joan M. Long Bangor ANG, Maine I suppose I'm a little more safety conscious than most folks. After all, I handle all the documentation that goes into our files and I've read a lot of accident reports, in the past few years. Seat belt safety is a special concern with me . Sure , accidents happen every day. People get hurt because they won't wear seat belts, and it makes me angry because a lot of suffering and expense can be avoided by buckling up; the statistics prove it. Still, when I talk with people about seat belts, it seems like they always know of someone who would've been killed if they had been wearing one. Sometimes that's true, but it's the exception to the rule. Today, I know of someone who is not the ex' , ception. On Dec. 21, 1984, a young lady named Sharon left work at 3 p.m. -- happy because she didn't have to go back to work until after Christmas. She went to a nearby bar to celebrate with a few "" . BUCKLE UP At 7 p.m. she left to drive to her mother's house, but never arrived. Halfway there, she lost control of her car and crashed into a utility pole at high speed. Sharon broke her neck, every rib, and severed her spine. She lost a lung; the other one was punctured. The surgeons removed her spleen as well as a blood clot in her brain. Her left shoulder was disintegrated. I saw the car after the accident. The imprint of the utility pole was very evident, but it's on the passenger side of the car in the rear seat. The driver's compartment was intact. If Sharon had worn her seat belt, she might have been injured, but not to the extent out; wao. I didn't know Sharon very well, but I grieve for her and her family. Theyll share the pain and suffering for a long, long time. I wear my seat belt every time I get into a car. It isn't such a hard habit to get into. If vnn won't Hv it for yourself, won't you wear your seat belt for your LiiciL loved ones? Please! (AFN- S- courtesy Bangor ANG Maineiac) rs. Military enters war on drug smuggling The U.S. military is assuming a greater role in the federal government's war on drug smuggling. The Air Force has joined the other military services, several federal agencies and a handful of Latin - American countries in launching the most recent crackdown on drug smugglers. Called Hat Trick II, the operation is designed to stop the flow of illegal drugs into the United States from the South. The operation began Nov. 1 and is expected to continue for three months. Announcing the operation Nov. 11, Vice President George Bush said it is the most extensive drug interdiction operation ever.undertaken. Mr. Bush said . Investi gations curbing fraud Gate guard receives kudo - The Department of Defense is cet ting excellent results in its effort to check fraud, waste and abuse and to save money and improvement. During a recent report to Congress, DOD internal audit and review organi- - resulted in 468 convictions and indict ments as well as 236 contractor suspensions and disbarments . The Defense Hotline program continues to be an important avenue for reporting fraud, waste and abuse. Duriccummenuauons ing the most recent reporting period, o,t?i with potential savings of more than $1 3,941 calls and letters were received. billion. The military services hotlines recordan additional 4,111 calls and letters. ed On the contract audit side, the Defense Audit Agency and the Army Significant hotline cases dealt with unCorps of Engineers questioned nearly authorized services, waste of funds, excessive pricing, false reporting, $15 million in pre- - and d concriminal misconduct, abuse of overtime tract costs. and overpriced spare parts. Criminal investigations during this The Defense Hotline numbers are period resulted in fines, penalties, res8 (800) (toll free) or titutions and recoveries amounting to To call the Air more than $37 million. DOD criminal Force 9 Hotline, dial (800) (toll investigators closed 7,639 cases, which free) or AUTOVON (AFNS) About 15 minutes ago. at thirty, I drove through the West Gate enroute to what I knew was going to be a long, trying day. The first thing that happened to me as I entered the base was a sharp salute by the gate oh-da- rk guard. I don't mean the salute, or a salute, I mean a "scratch-your-right-eyebro- stand-up-straig- N salute! This sort of thing happens rather frequently on the base, and the Security Police folks deserve a kudo. It is impossible to overstate the effect that a sharp salute, proudly rendered, and AU-TOVO- N 223-508- 0. 538-842- 227-106- 1. Published by MorMedia Sales, 1 1 52 West River-dal- e Road, Ogden, Utah 84405. phone Deadline: Editorial, 4 p.m. Monday before publication date; announcements for "Around the Hill,". 1 0 a.m. Monday before publication date; classified ads, 2 p.m. Wednesday before publication date. Articles may be turned in at Room 118, Bldg. 394-965- times 5. w" ht, and post-awar- 424-909- about 250,000 pounds of narcotics were taken during the first 10 days of the operation. Colombia, Panama, Venezuela and Jamaica are assisting the United States . The vice president's National Narcotics Border Interdiction System is coordinating the operation. President Reagan appointed that task force to fight drug trafficking. ' (AFNS) 1 1 02, between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday-Fridaie nui I up i imes receives Air Force New Serv- 1 1 ice (AFNS). AFLC News Service (AFLCNS), Tactical Air Command News Service (TACNS) and American Forces Press Service (AFPS). Everything advertised in the Hill Top Times must be made available for purchase, use or patronage proudly returned can have, On several occasions such an exchange has really turned a tough day around for me. I just want the local law enforcement people to know there are a lot of people who appreciate their effort. I might suggest that Security Police install a small rack in each guard shack that would contain an exchangeable sign that reads "Sentry on Duty" with the.sentry's name. It's very hard when driving through a gate to identify the person who displays exceptional military courtesy. A name sign for each sentry would allow lots of people to do just that. Again, congratulations to the Secu rity Police. without regard to the race, creed, color, national origin, age or sex of the purchaser, user or patron. A confirmed violation or rejection of this policy of equal opportunity by an advertiser will result in the refusal to print advertising from that source. The publisher reserves the right to cancel any advertisement at any time. |