SADC Financial Regulations Effective 1 April 2013 c) makes an unauthorised, irregular or fruitless and wasteful expenditure; or d) provides incorrect or misleading information to the Accounting Officer. 4. Any other SADC staff member commits an act of financial misconduct if that official deliberately or negligently exercises a duty or power that he or she is not authorised in the form of an instrument of delegation duly issued in accordance with these regulations. 5. The DBF shall immediately notify the Accounting Officer in writing as soon as he or she is made aware of an allegation of financial misconduct. 6. The Accounting Officer, upon notification, shall immediately suspend all financial management powers and duties of the officer who allegedly committed the financial misconduct. Such suspension shall be in the form of written notification to the DBF and alleged offending officer. 7. An officer suspended from exercising their powers and duties provided in these regulations may within 7 calendar days from the date of such suspension make written submissions to the authority providing delegated authority detailing the circumstances giving rise to the unauthorised expenditure or commitment. 8. After the expiry of 14 calendar days from the date of suspension the Accounting Officer, shall after considering any submission, remove the suspension or commence the investigation process as provided for in the SADC Administration Rules and Procedures. 9. An investigation shall be undertaken into any notified instance of alleged financial misconduct by the Accounting Officer, DBF, or Controlling Officer unless those allegations are frivolous, speculative or obviously unfounded. 10. If the investigation warrants such a step, disciplinary proceedings shall be instituted against the Accounting Officer, DBF, Controlling Officer, or other officer as provided for in the SADC Administration Rules and Procedures and other relevant policies. 11. All documentation pertaining to financial misconduct including documentation relating to suspension, investigation and disciplinary proceedings shall be made available to Internal Audit, the Board of Auditors and the Audit Committee as part of their reviews of adequate systems of internal control. Page 39 of 100