TIRANA, Sept. 22 – The Albanian Helsinki Committee has raised concerns about Albania’s Supreme State Audit passivity to address issues of abuse conducted by administration employees and officials.
In its newly published report about abuse noted in 2014, Albanian Helsinki Committee said that the State Supreme Audit has found about 3 billion Lek in damages to the state budget caused by power abuse, forged documents and faulty tenders.
Data shows that 19 cases of abuse of power were noted in Tirana and six in the Durres prosecution office, which caused $3 million in damages. These cases consist in 60 percent of all referrals and 65 percent of damages reported in 2014.
At the time, State Supreme Audit referred to prosecutors about 63 officials and former mid-rank officials at the property registration office, legalizations office, concessions and procurement departments, customs, energy and health sector.
Prosecutors on the other hand launched investigations for at least 30 percent of referred cases.
The Albanian Helsinki Committee report shows that Tirana Prosecution office has suspended 12 cases and sent to trial only 3 cases in Tirana and in Durrà«s.
The NGO criticizes the SSA’s decision to not challenge the prosecution’s actions in closing these investigations.
“The SSA has not reported high-level officials in 2014 and has appealed the decisions of the Prosecution for suspending cases,” said Erida Skendaj, executive director of the Helsinki Committee in Albania, said in a press conference on Wednesday.
According to Skendaj, auditors at the State Supreme Audit Office are obliged to see through all proceedings against abusers of public funds and violations of the law.
The Albanian Helsinki Committee recommended that the parliament of Albania reviews the performance of these important institutions and encourage them to implement their tasks in protecting public funds.
Meanwhile, the chairman of the State Supreme Audit Office, Bujar Leskaj said that the findings of the Albanian Helsinki Committee are unfounded since auditors have reported all cases when prosecutors closed investigations to the Prosecutor General as a final appeal.
