The Anti-Corruption Commission compiled Corruption Risk Assessment Report indicates a total of MVR 7.6 million is registered as a loss on government revenue due to fraudulent price fixing on goods imported into Maldives.
According to ACC's research officer Fathimath Ibna who presented details of the assessment report at Maldives Customs on Sunday, highlighted that between 2012 and 2015 a total of 246 cases of fraudulent price fixing were fined by Customs authority while 195 cases did not receive proper fining due to lack of evidence to back incriminating malpractice in goods imported. A total of 12 cases were pushed to Attorney General's office out of which 11 cases were filed to courts for trails.
ACC's research officer highlights a total of MVR 7,635,822.81 is subjected as government revenue which fell through the cracks over incriminating conduct during goods imported into Maldives. Currently with the cases placed at courts, government stands to collect MVR 248,122.83. In addition to this, Customs Authority also would be actively seeking to collect an amount of MVR 5,295,968.17 which importers and several other corporations owe to the government as settlements for consignments and logistical transactions.
The Corruption Risk Assessment report also revealed that several corporations that failed to settle fines had opened business under new names following the cancellation or cease of licenses. The report also stressed of no privacy or protection for whistleblowers, inviting higher chances for corruptions and scandalous conduct.
Other aspects that pave way for corruption includes the non-inclusion of a financial report subjected on executive hierarchies of the corporation, lack of "job rotation" over skilled labor force and the lack of an organized work network.
Anti-Corruption Commission had deduced and highlighted all the angles that requires corporate development and dent-fixes for which the commission provided relevant advice.
