Audit Office unveils irregularities of over Rs 1 billion at Central Water Authority

Questionable accounting practices or figures that could not be verified and justified. These were the issues reportedly highlighted by Mauritius’ National Audit Office in the 2018/2019 financial report of the Central Water Authority (CWA) just released.

After analysing the latest available accounts of the CWA, the audit office apparently found a series of anomalies totalling over Rs 1 billion.

According to Defi Media, the first inconsistency was that the CWA had spare parts and other equipment worth Rs 52.8 million while the value of such equipment in the “Stock Management System” officially read Rs86 million.

The second irregularity, Defi Media said, detected concerned three contracts for a total amount of Rs 36.7 million, which were not capitalised in the CWA’s accounts.

The Audit Office reportedly also noted that Rs 420.6 million had been earmarked under creditors and Rs 34.8 million for accrued expenditures. However, the list of suppliers seemed incoherent. “Hence, the validity and valuation of payables could not be ascertained,” auditors pointed out. 

Finally, the Audit Office questionned the rent paid for a state land currently rented by the CWA amounting to Rs 556.6 million.

But this amount, according to the auditors, has not been properly accounted for.

The accounting mechanism used was reportedly not in line with public sector accounting policy, the Audit Office concluded.

Source: Defi Media