ACC: Rent of vehicles for SAARC Summit is corruption-free

Anti-Corruption Commission has announced there was no corruption involved in the rent of 21 vehicles for the 17th South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation Summit held in Addu City in 2011.

The announcement was made in a statement issued by ACC this Tuesday regarding the conclusion of its investigation into issues noted in the audit report regarding the transaction.

ACC said documents and statements by those questioned in the course of its investigation proved the 21 vehicles were rented after a bidding process.

ACC said that though the audit report said the vehicles were rented at a higher rate than the standard, the commission found Addu City Council had not set any standard rate for rent of vehicles. It said the rate was pushed up based on the demand at the time.

The commission said that though payment vouchers showed an advance was paid, the money was issued after the SAARC Summit. It said that documents showed the vehicles were rented under contract for a specific number of days, and that the payment was therefore made in accordance with the contract.

ACC noted the lack of documentation of the details regarding trips made by the rented vehicles was a cause of concern, but that there wasn’t enough evidence to support a criminal charge over the issue.

“As there isn’t sufficient evidence to uphold a criminal charge, the commission is unable to conclude that an act of corruption as stated in law on anti-corruption took place in this case. Therefore, in reference to Article 25 (a) (i) of Anti-Corruption Commission Act, it has been concluded this case does not involve an act of corruption,” read ACC’s statement.