Audit Office instructs action over HDh. Atoll Council’s trip to Bangkok

Auditor General’s Office (AG Office) has instructed action over a trip undertaken by HDh. Atoll Council to Bangkok, Thailand, last year, citing the trip yielded no benefits.

An audit report publicized by the Audit Office shows that MVR 953,885 was incurred for the 10-day trip. A total of 20 staff, including 13 out of 14 council members and six officials from the senior management, participated in the trip.

The details of the expenses:  

• Training institute free and meals: MVR 535,213
• Travel: MVR 133,229
• Pocket Money: MVR 46,260
• Domestic travel (to Male’): MVR 28,000
• Domestic ticket: MVR 72,020
• International ticket: MVR 138,163

The Council cited the purposes of the visit as to gain experience in areas such as good governance, public policy and rural development, capacity building and seeking Thai investors.

However, the audit report stressed that no projects have been initiated in the atoll with the experience and knowledge gained from this trip, even though a year has already passed. Thus, the audit report said the trip yielded no reasonable benefits to the council.

It was noted that a large percentage of the block grant disbursed to HDh. Atoll Council from the state budget last year had been spent on the trip. As such, the audit report read that the council had exceeded its travel budget for last year by over MVR 651,571.

Furthermore, the audit report said the council failed to formulate a supplementary budget as required by the Decentralization. The Council had also not sought approval required from the Finance Ministry before undertaking official visits.

Thus, the Audit Office has instructed Finance Ministry to take action against those responsible for the Council's expenses.