http:\/\/5newsonline.com\/2016\/03\/08\/fort-smith-police-conducted-criminal-investigation-into-former-sanitation-director-records-show\/ <\/p>\n
Questions: 1. Why was this person not vetted sufficiently before being hired?
\n2. It appears that known improprieties were going on for years, why?
\n3. Why should redacting be allowed, especially at this level…no top secret information was at risk?
\n4. Who will be held accountable and when?<\/p>\n
FORT SMITH (KFSM)\u2014Documents show a criminal investigation into the city\u2019s former sanitation director Baridi Nkokheli began in September 2015.<\/p>\n
It was prompted by the city auditor, who reported allegations of possible kickbacks from vendors, misuse of travel funds, misappropriation of city property, misuse of sanitation funds and other accusations, which acting city administrator Jeff Dingman redacted.<\/p>\n
\u201cThose items weren`t necessarily used as reason or justification for the termination, and so on the advice of the city attorney, they were redacted,” Dingman said.<\/p>\n
Investigators noted in the report there was an \u201cUnmistakable conflict of interest and ethical violation\u201d to ask for and receive a loan from a vendor with which the city does business.<\/p>\n
It goes on to state, \u201cIt should be noted this allegation is from many years ago and would be far outside the statute of limitations\u201d to file criminal charges.<\/p>\n
The eighth page of the criminal investigation conducted by the Fort Smith Police Department is completely redacted.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs far as what specifically was redacted, I don`t recall exactly what all those redactions are,\u201d Dingman said.<\/p>\n
The report also states Sgt. Tony Bowers and the city auditor discussed the fact that Nkokheli had been formally known as Kevin Wesley Kellough, and that he apparently legally changed his name many years ago.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think I had known for some time that the name that he was going by here wasn`t his given name,\u201d Dingman said, \u201cbut I didn’t really pay attention, people change their names for different reasons. I didn’t really pay attention to why or when or how or anything like that.\u201d<\/p>\n
In a deposition conducted by his ex-wife`s divorce attorney, Nkokheli said under oath his birth name is Kevin Wesley Kellough, and he legally changed his name in Houston in 1997.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don`t know that was ever made any sort of an issue with the city, not that I`m aware of,\u201d Dingman said.<\/p>\n
The auditor told investigators Nkokheli also used the alias Castain Metoyer.<\/p>\n
5NEWS has reached out to Nkokheli for comment, but we were not able to reach him.<\/p>\n
We also sent the Fort Smith Police Department a request to release the information in the the criminal investigation documents redacted by the city, and we are waiting for a response back.<\/p>\n
To see the investigation documents in full, click here.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
http:\/\/5newsonline.com\/2016\/03\/08\/fort-smith-police-conducted-criminal-investigation-into-former-sanitation-director-records-show\/ Questions: 1. Why was this person not vetted sufficiently before being hired? 2. It appears that known improprieties were going on for years, why? 3. Why should redacting be allowed, especially at this level…no top secret information was at risk? 4. Who will be held accountable and when? FORT SMITH (KFSM)\u2014Documents show a criminal … Continue reading Questions concerning criminal activity in local government\/where is transparency?<\/span>