State Audit uncovers USD 16 mln of abuses in 2010

TIRANA, March 21 – Central and local government institutions abused some 1.6 billion lek (16 million dollars) in 2010, mainly in tax and customs collection, expenditure and renting of state-owned property, the High State Audit (HAS) says in its annual report. This was confirmed by the HSA chairman Robert Ceku during a hearing at the parliamentary economy committee where he said that most abuses were identified in the tax and customs administration.
“In the tax sector, the HSA identified 533 million lek of abuses, in the customs administration 359 million lek, in public procurements some 188 million lek, in the renting of state-owned property 154 million lek and in the operating expenditure some 23 million lek, altogether 1.6 billion lek,” said Robert Ceku.
Addressing MPs at the parliamentary committee, Ceku called on government to give the High State Audit full power to also carry out controls in concessionary contracts, most of which are granted on small hydro-power plants.
The Supreme State Audit also suggested that the expected tax amnesty be carried out on clear criteria and that the value added tax is reviewed following problems with the VAT reimbursement.