Court clerk magistrate Stan Holt has been placed on unpaid administrative leave due to an Alabama Bureau of Investigation probe into his department’s finances, according to city attorney Larry Madison.

In a phone interview Friday, Madison said that were discrepancies with Holt’s department in the city’s audit for fiscal year 2011-2012 audit.

“He was placed on administrative leave because we felt like he didn’t need to be in the office while this investigation is ongoing,” Madison said. “We turned the investigation over to the ABI and to independent auditor Darrell Wates. We needed an outside investigation because the problems were internal.”

Madison said that they aren’t accusing any wrongdoing at this time. He hopes the investigation will be completed by the end of April.

Mayor Don Hall said Holt went on unpaid leave a couple of weeks ago.

“I cannot comment on this at this time as it is an ongoing investigation,” Hall said. “We will be able to say more once the investigation is complete.

“Like Larry said, we’re not accusing anyone of any wrongdoing at this point,” Hall said.