Grand jury called on audit question (10/04/06)

A grand jury will be convened next month to hear evidence of possible ghost employment noted in a recent state audit of the City of Portland.

Jay County Prosecutor Brad Burkett, who has requested an investigation by the Indiana State Police, asked that a grand jury be convened Wednesday, Nov. 29, at 8:30 a.m. The request was granted Thursday.

The six-person jury will decide whether or not charges should be pursued in the case.

The ISP investigation and grand jury will focus on an incident in July of 2005 in which city employees were instructed in a memo from Mayor Bruce Hosier to attend the calling and funeral for city clerk-treasuer Barbara Blackford.

The recent audit by the Indiana State Board of Accounts noted the incident, and quoted from a section of Indiana Code referring to ghost employment which mentions paying governmental employees for functions not related to his or her official duties.

Burkett said this morning that because the investigation was sparked by a state board of accounts audit, any action must be taken through a grand jury.[[In-content Ad]]