From over Nu 7.5bn worth of irregularities in the financial year 2021-2022, more than Nu 2bn of irregularities were resolved as of May this year. This is according to the Public Accounts Committee who presented the Annual Audit Report 2021-2022 at the joint sitting of the Parliament today.
According to the report, shortfalls, lapses, and deficiencies topped the irregularities category amounting to more than Nu 5bn. But irregularities amounting to more than Nu 1bn have been resolved as of May this year.
The irregularities regarding non-compliance with laws, rules, and regulations accounted for over Nu 2bn and nearly Nu 1bn has been resolved.
From about Nu 26 M worth of irregularities under the fraud and corruption, only about Nu 2 M were resolved.
The constitutional agencies have resolved all their irregularities. The hydropower projects have also resolved more than 90 per cent of their irregularities.
According to the report, the total unresolved irregularities reported between 2010 and 2021 are reported to be over Nu 5bn.
From that, 151 cases worth over Nu 270 M are still with the courts, 53 cases amounting to Nu 52 M were regarding pending enforcement of judgment and 14 cases worth about Nu 90,000 are pending with the Anti-Corruption Commission.
At the joint sitting, the Members of Parliament raised their concerns regarding the pending cases of unresolved irregularities registered with the courts.
“The court should segregate the cases and solve them. We do not have to worry if the cases take about three to five years but when the cases are left pending for about ten years then, we are worried. So, if the cases are pending because the people involved are missing or have fled the country, we can include that in our report to make the report clear,” said Ugyen Wangdi, MP of Dramedtse-Ngatshang.
The Public Accounts Committee also recommended to expedite the litigation and enforcement of the judgment.
The Parliament will continue deliberating on Annual Audit Report 2021-2022 tomorrow.
Kinzang Lhadon
Edited by Tshering Zam
