The Office of Transportation in the Philippines is being investigated after spending more than 388 percent over its approved procurement budget in 2010, according to Malaya.
The agency’s purchases include ink and toner cartridges, as well as other office supplies such as envelopes, pens and paper.
Malaya reports that a review of the contracts has revealed supply firms “owned by persons having the same last name…, with addresses adjacent with each other; belonged to the same owner/proprietor; and are not registered with the Department of Trade and Industry or Securities and Exchange Commission.”
Several governmental bodies in Australia are also currently being investigated after vastly overspending on printing supplies. Staff were found to have bought cartridges at hugely inflated prices in return for personal bribes.
Meanwhile, the UK Government is pushing for tighter control and more transparency in the way its office supplies contracts operate, after reports of overspending and large price gaps between bodies.