The Parliament audit has revealed that the Parliament spent MVR 5.2 million on security staff who had been suspended from service.

The report signed by Auditor General Hassan Ziyath stated that after Sergeant at Arms were appointed to the Parliament, it was disbanded and security was handed over to Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF). Following this, the 22 personnel under Sergeant at Arms were ordered not to report to work.

However, due to administrative issues from November 5, 2015 to January 28,2017 the state had spent MVR 5.2 million as salaries and allowances. The employees were given two months’ notice, but the formal letters of dismissal were given only a year afterwards.

The report noted that the 22 officers were paid for no work.

Audit report added the decision to not involve any outside parties in security for the Parliament was taken after the state of emergency declared in 2015. From November 4, 2015 security for the Parliament was provided by MNDF.

The audit report recommended that Parliament procedures should be amended to ease the budget issues.