The Ministry of Tourism spent hefty amounts on unauthorized purchase of fuel to be used at the state-run airport in Kaadedhdhoo island in Gaafu Dhaalu atoll.

The year-end audit, signed by Auditor General Hassan Ziyath, found that the purchase of fuel to be used at the airport exceeds MVR 1.1 million (specifically 1,137,939) and thus violates the regulations set by the Public Finances Act.

The law states that any expense exceeding a sum of MVR 35,000 must be assigned and publicly declared. The audit also found that no contracts in regard to fuel purchase had been made with the seller used by the ministry’s Regional Airports authority.

Audit reports of local ministries have commonly found discrepancies in spending, with some government office notoriously refusing to submit documents needed for auditing. The Anti-Corruption Commission has been scrutinized for its alleged ‘negligence’ and sometimes ‘refusal’ to address such matters.