Auditor General commences investigations into eleven major cases of violations of the law

The Auditor General has commenced investigations into eleven major cases which are alleged violations of the Public Finance Act.

Speaking to Sun Online, Auditor General Niyaz Ibrahim said that the investigation of the eleven cases have been prioritised after receiving serious complaints.

“It’s our responsibility to check if State property and funds were misused. Out of the cases that are being investigated at the moment, six are almost completed,” he said.

The cases that have been given priority include the expenses related to the SAARC Summit held in the Maldives in 2011, an audit of the State debt between 2004 and 2011, an audit of Southern Utilities, an audit of the Early Retirement Pension, an audit of the Airport Investment Company and a project of the Maafushi Prison, an audit related to the sale of the shares of Dhiraagu, an audit related to the construction of houses in Gaafu Alifu and Gaafu Dhaalu atolls to replace the houses destroyed in the tsunami, and an audit of MNBC in relation to the purchase of assets and obtaining a loan.

“All these issues are being investigated at a fast speed. But we do face serious challenges in conducting these investigations. The major challenge is the shortage of staff. But we will complete these investigations using the resources we have,” he said.

He said that based on the investigations that have been carried out so far, several acts of direct corruption have come to light as violations of the law and regulations.