Audit: Noonu Atoll Council President owes over 100,000 Rufiyaa to the council
The 2023 audit report has revealed that the Noonu Atoll Council failed to recover over MVR 2.2 million due to the absence of a proper financial registry. The outstanding dues include more than MVR 100,000 owed by Council President Mohamed Bashir for State House rent and campaign-related travel expenses, with the Auditor General noting that the council has made insufficient efforts to recover these funds.
Mohamed Bashir, President of the Noonu Atoll Council. | Social Media | Social Media
The 2023 audit report has revealed that the Noonu Atoll Council is owed a significant amount of outstanding payments from various parties, including over MVR 100,000 owed by the Council’s President, Mohamed Bashir.
The report highlighted that while the council's official registry of accounts receivable showed MVR 960,124 due for services provided up to the end of 2023, various other documents indicated an additional MVR 1,273,995 owed to the council by the same period. This additional amount had not been included in the records provided for audit.
Consequently, by the end of 2023, the council office was owed a total of MVR 2,234,119. According to the council's records, MVR 960,124 was outstanding as of December 31, 2023, for various services and rent; of this amount, MVR 151,349 had been recovered as of September 28, 2024.
Furthermore, it was noted that adequate measures have not been taken to recover funds owed to the council office. Additionally, details of parties with outstanding payments exceeding MVR 50,000 have been disclosed in the receivables registry.
In this regard,
- Atoll Council President: MVR 118,220
- Ministry of Environment: 114,500 Rufiyaa
- Ministry of National Planning: MVR 100,105
- N. Kendhikulhudhoo Council: MVR 71,350
- Ministry of Health: 61,500 Rufiyaa
- N. Manadhoo Council: 52,645 Rufiyaa
The audit report stated that out of the MVR 118,220 owed by the Atoll Council President, MVR 89,820 is for unpaid rent for the State House. These charges were incurred under the regulations stipulated in the circular issued on May 20, 2021, titled "Arrangements for Accommodation and Meals for Atoll Council Presidents."
According to the report, this amount represents the outstanding rent owed for the Noonu Atoll Council President’s residency at the State House, covering the period from May 19, 2021, to December 31, 2023.
Furthermore, the audit report highlighted that of the total amount owed by the Council President, MVR 28,400 is attributed to speedboat travel expenses. The report noted that this figure includes outstanding payments for trips undertaken for political campaign activities.
The audit report stated that the funds owed to the council by various state institutions primarily consist of unpaid bills for speedboat trips conducted by those agencies.
The audit report instructed the council to take the necessary measures to recover these funds.
