Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has concluded a case alleging that Adh. Hanimaadhoo Council deceived its citizens when reaching a consensus to spend MVR 875,000.00 from the public finance in order to celebrate Eid al-Adha 1437 AH in Adh. Hanimaadhoo.
Upon investigation, it was found that the decision on conducting Eid activities by obtaining funding from the public finance or the Council’s budget, conflicts with the article 4.02 (e), 4.02(f) and 4.06 (b) of Public Finance regulation.
As per Public Finance Regulation’s article 4.02 (e) and (f), it is prohibited to use the government budget for the purpose of participating in any festival/sport activities. The regulation also specifies that if the corresponding office’s budget does not comprise an item for purchasing festival/sport related inventory, the office must not spend money from its budget or from any other account to purchase such items.
Besides, article 4.06 (b) of Public Finance regulation prohibits the use of the budget for any activity that is not allocated for budgetary spending by the government and if one wishes to spend for such an activity, a written approval from the Ministry of Finance and Treasury must be obtained beforehand.
Furthermore, article 88 of law number 7/2010 states that the income received by the Council must be maintained in compliance with the law on maintaining public wealth and finance. Hence, all expenses must be disbursed in accordance with the Public Finance regulation and its policies, regardless of whether it is spent from the public finance or from the Council’s budget.
Therefore, Adh. Hanimaadhoo Council’s decision on disbursing money from the island’s public finance or from Hanimaadhoo Council’s budget, to celebrate Eid al-Adha 1437 AH conflicts with the Public Finance regulation. Thus, on 29 August 2016, ACC has commanded Adh. Hanimaadhoo Council to halt this process.
Moreover, ACC informed Adh. Hanimaadhoo Council that the necessary legal actions would be taken against them under law number 13/2008 (Anti-Corruption Commission’s act) if they happen to disobey the commission’s order.