The Auditor General has requested that the Maldives Broadcasting Commission (Broadcom) pursue quick legal action to claim all pending license and late fees.
The Auditor General's Office on Sunday released its audit report for the activities of Broadcom in 2019 which notes that the Commission had neglected efforts to procure a number of yearly licensing and late fees in direct violation of the government's Public Financing Regulation as well as the commission's mandate.
In addition to this, the report also states that a survey of the audit samples shed light on licensing fees that have been pending for over a year, which have racked up heavy penalties.
The report goes on to detail that although Broadcom had made attempts to collect MVR 3,204,320 from the guilty parties by issuing two reminders via writing as required, that they failed to seek legal action in court despite failure to pay. Further, beyond communicating an initial seven-day payment window in writing for MVR 1,090,600, Broadcom had not followed the guidelines as dictated within the Public Financing Regulation to claim those funds. Hence, total amount due from license holders is MVR 4,294,920.
In the event of non-compliance, Broadcom is required to inform parties of seven-day extensions to their respective payment windows, and pursue legal action.
However, the Commission had not sought legal action in court against violators by 28th February 2020.
Further details about the audit samples taken as highlighted in the report reveal a clear disregard for established Public Financing Regulation by Broadcom.
As per the audit report, these pending licensing and late fees contribute directly to boosting government revenue, and such grave oversight on behalf of Broadcom results in the government being unable to possess and otherwise use that revenue for public benefit.
The Auditor General also called on the Commission to clearly follow the instructions within the Public Financing Regulations in procuring pending licensing and late fees, and to pursue legal action as needed in order to claim those funds.
