An audit report has revealed that more than MVR 5 million was issued to various parties that provided false information to the government's Income Support Allowance programme.
According to the latest figures from the Finance Ministry, MVR 421 million was disbursed to 22,946 people as income support.
According to the audit report released by the Audit Office, MVR 4,974,477 was obtained in 2020 by various individuals by providing false information for income support issued through the National Social Protection Agency (NSPA).
The audit report found that MVR 5.38 million was paid to 485 individuals who provided false information in 2020 and 2021. However, further investigation showed that the funds disbursed to 14 of these individuals did not need to be recovered.
Under the Economic Ministry's efforts to recover the money from those who received fraudulent allowances, the ministry was able to contact 91 percent of the people. As of October 20 this year, the ministry recovered MVR 788,331 from 15 percent of people who paid back the money, the report noted.
