High State Audit unveils $45 mln of abuses

TIRANA, July 31 – The High State Audit has unveiled 5.1 billion lek (Euro 36.5 million, USD 45 million) of abuses in controls carried out in central and local government institutions during the first half of this year. Inspections showed the direct economic damage is estimated at 3.6 billion lek, while financial damage is reported at 1.4 billion lek.
Most abuses were identified in state-run enterprises mainly in the energy field worth 2.7 billion lek. The Economy, Trade and Energy Ministry is reported to have caused financial damage of 1.4 billion lek in concessions of state-owned assets. The Albanian Road Authority was responsible for 285 million lek of abuse while the Centre for Official Publications abused 22.5 million lek. The Directorate General of Water Supply and Sewerage and the Environment Ministry abused 13.7 million lek and 12.8 million lek respectively.
The High State Audit says it filed 18 lawsuits for officials involved in abuse of office mostly in public tenders during the first six months of this year, a figure which is equal to charges filed during the whole 2009-2011 period. The Audit also gave 2,113 recommendations, 489 disciplinary measures, and 1,137 organizing measures.