ACC has concluded a case addressed in Gh. Fiyori Council’s audit report (number: COM-2016-19(D)) alleging that upon counting the cash in the Council’s safe on 27 September 2014, at least MVR 7,765 was found to be missing from the Council’s safe. The report also claims that the same issue befell on 09 March 2016 where it was observed that MVR 35,573.83 was missing from the safe.
Upon counting the cash in Gdh. Fiyori Council’s safe on 09 March 2016, it was found that 35,573.83 cash was missing from the safe. From the statements obtained for the investigation, it is evident that the Council’s Administrative Officer was in charge of the safe. The administrative officer stated that before taking leave, the keys of the safe were handed over to two employees working in the Council and that some of the cash received by the council when on leave were placed in the safe. However, the two employees who were temporarily in charge of the safe denied that they opened or placed any cash inside the safe. Moreover, the Administrative Officer confessed that he had not counted the cash in the safe before leaving or after returning to work.
As the investigation did not find sufficient evidence on any efforts made to obtain or provide an undue advantage, the case was concluded under section 25 (a) (1) of law number 13/2008 (Anti-Corruption Commission Act), as there was no offence of corruption in the case.
Nonetheless, the investigation reveals that the Administrative Officer in charge of the safe is accountable to the cash missing from it. Also, the Administrative Officer confessed that the issue aroused due to his negligence and that he would take responsibility for any cash that needs to be recompensed by the government with regards to this issue.
Hence, under law number 13/2008 of (Anti-Corruption Commission Act), ACC has informed Gdh. Fiyori Council to deposit the missing cash of MVR 35,573.83 to the public account, in compliance with the Public finance regulation after collecting the cash from the responsible party; the Council’s Administrative Officer placed in charge of the safe.
Also, ACC’s investigation found that there were cash received by Gh. Fiyori Council which have not been deposited to the relevant accounts or forwarded to the relevant parties since a long period of time. As this included Zakat money and finance that has to be deposited to the public account, ACC has recommended Gh. Fiyori Council to deposit its income received to the corresponding bank accounts in compliance with the article 1.01 of Public Finance Regulation.
Besides, it was also noticed that Gh. Fiyori Council had neither developed a report for the cash held in the safe nor maintained any records on any details of such cash. As this is a highly concerning factor that could lead to corruption and huge government losses, ACC has recommended the Council to maintain a report and record of the cash held within its safe and also to forward the report to Ministry of Finance and Treasury under article 6.16 of Public Finance Regulation.