In the summer of 2022, Urs Pfäffli, president of Gastro Zurich, came across irregularities in the association’s accounting. An accounting firm then scrutinized the years 2020 and 2021 and checked the accounts for suspicion of infidelity. At the center of the suspicion are the former manager and two senior employees who ran the association’s own training center.
The result of the research will be presented to the Gastro Zurich delegates’ meeting on Monday evening. The audit report is already available for the «Tagesanzeiger». And the report aims to prove that in some cases clearly private expenses were accounted for a significant portion as business expenses or expenses, according to the “Tagesanzeiger”.
It is about 443,000 francs, which the defendant allegedly wrote on the expenses. Most of her money was spent on designer clothes, expensive wine and cigars.
The office has in the years 2020 and 2021 Bought wine worth CHF 96,500. The accountants could not find a business purpose for wine orders worth 55,000 francs.
At the same time, 15,500 francs were spent on cigars. According to the report, no cigars have been bought since the manager retired. Wine purchases have also become “massively” less.
The current chairman, Urs Pfäffli, told the “Tagesanzeiger” that the association does not need cigars – neither for the school nor for its own canteen.
About 50,000 francs were spent on scented candles, room fragrances and perfumes. Here, too, the purpose is unclear. The audit report asks:
The “Tagesanzeiger” writes that both senior employees worked for a company that, according to the trade register, specializes in “planning, consultancy and trade in interior design for catering, multipurpose rooms, meeting rooms, offices and physiotherapy”. “.
The “Tagesanzeiger” adds that there is no comment on whether there is any connection between this company and the purchase of the scented candles.
Clothing was also bought diligently. In the years 2018 to 2020, CHF 66,900 was purchased for designer clothes. The booking texts and bank transfers show that the clothing was intended for the two executive women.
In the summer of 2019, one of them met 3000 francs as “contribution to the wedding dress” transferred. She also booked 1,690 francs for a purchase in a bridal shop. During her pregnancy more maternity clothes were bought and later also baby stuff. Total: 5100 francs.
Smartphones, notebooks, iPads and AirPods – 58,800 francs were spent on electronic products issued. According to the accountant’s report, the question is whether these are business costs. However, the auditors were unable to determine precisely whether some of the devices had been given to employees. Many devices can no longer be found.
At several points in the report, it is pointed out that shortly before the departure of the manager, in September 2021, money was again generously spent.
Two notebooks, five smartphones, two children’s tablets and several IT accessories worth CHF 15,200 were purchased three days before his last day of work, according to the «Tagesanzeiger». That’s what the report says 63 perfume bottles worth 6,700 francs, expensive wine and cigars were bought.
Are they errors or fraudulent intent? This question is not answered in the report. However, there is clear criticism of the “rudimentary control mechanisms” at Gastro Zurich.
Receipts were partly duplicated, partly plain or partly not signed at all. It can be assumed that the few existing internal control mechanisms have been “consciously pushed aside” by those involved.
It is also striking that the former director approved many invoices that were not related to the company’s activities. He should therefore have known about the private purchases at the expense of Gastro Zurich.
The former CEO denies all allegations. In a letter to the Gastro Zurich delegates, which is also available to the “Tagesanzeiger”, he writes: “I will defend myself against these unjust and notorious allegations and avoid dragging people who have done valuable work for the association for decades in the earth”. It was an act of revenge by individual board members against him.
He also writes that it was within his authority to approve purchases and orders. He has always done so for the past 26 years with the knowledge and approval of the Board of Directors. All receipts were duly approved and approved by the audit committee, the external auditor Gastroconsult AG and the board of directors.
When asked by the “Tagesanzeiger”, none of the defendants would comment.
The purchases of clothing “were intended as compensation and representation expenses”, the former director writes in the letter. As directors, both women would have represented the association and would have worked unpaid evenings and weekends. The council should have known that.
The countless electronic devices purchased would have been given to employees and board members when they worked from home. This practice would have saved the association compensation for a lot of overtime in the office.
Urs Pfäffli confirmed to the “Tagesanzeiger” that the board wants to file a criminal complaint on suspicion of unfair management and embezzlement. “We have only done our duty, we want the money back to which we are entitled,” said Pfäffli. The funds that have been used improperly belong to the members of the association.
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Source: Watson
I am Dawid Malan, a news reporter for 24 Instant News. I specialize in celebrity and entertainment news, writing stories that capture the attention of readers from all walks of life. My work has been featured in some of the world’s leading publications and I am passionate about delivering quality content to my readers.
