relating to them. It may be noted, in addition, that anothe r certifying officer in OCN established that numerous recipients fo r whom payments were handled by her, and who were not affiliated wit h SWAPO, routinely furnished the information and documentation required by OCN as a prerequisite to scholarship or social welfare benefi t payments. Following the report of the Commission, which conclude d that the alleged recipients were non-existent and that the Applicant had forged their signatures and misappropriated the funds, th e Secretary-General, in his discretion, decided to dismiss the Applicant summarily for serious misconduct. XV.On the record of this case, the Tribunal cannot conclude that the Secretary-General was acting on a mistake of fact in summaril y- 23 - dismissing the Applicant. Given the evidence, the Secretary-General was not obliged to believe the Applicant's assertions. Indeed, th e discretionary authority of the Secretary-General would have permitted summary dismissal for serious misconduct solely on the basis of th e repeated flagrant violations of U.N. financial regulations that were initially discovered by the au ditors and which the Applicant admitted having committed, without having regard to whether there was proo f that he had forged endorsements on the cheques. In the Tribunal' s view, a staff member, particul arly one occupying the position and the level of the Applicant, who engages in such conduct purporte dly at the verbal direction of a superior without obtaining specific an d unambiguous written instructio ns verifying his authority to do so, is per se guilty of serious misconduct if he is unable to establis h promptly by clear and convincing evidence that the alleged payment s were authorized, were actually made and were received by person s entitled to receive them. XVI.The Applicant's claim that prejudicial or extraneous factor s
**Analysis**
The text appears to be related to the management of financial resources within an international organization, specifically the United Nations. It discusses the handling of funds, certification, and the dismissal of an employee due to serious misconduct. The context suggests that the text is related to administrative and financial aspects rather than a specific sector or industry.

**Category**
Humanitarian aid and relief, Employment