Parliament orders audit to be conducted into SIFCO flat project

Public Accounts Committee of Parliament has requested the Auditor General to conduct a special audit of the 300-flat project carried out by Sifainge Cooperative (SIFCO).

In a letter to Auditor General Hussain Niyazy, the committee asked for an audit of the SIFCO flat project, including its expenditures, outstanding bills, and payments to contractors and subcontractors.

The Auditor General's Office has been asked to inform Parliament by noon on Sunday regarding the timeline for submitting the audit reports.

This request follows a recent report by the Attorney General’s Office on "Blue Housing," a project by the police welfare company POLCO, which highlighted significant issues. Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee is currently reviewing the findings.

Senior officials from the Auditor General’s Office have been summoned to the committee this week to discuss the POLCO report. During the meeting, members pointed out that the POLCO and SIFCO housing projects were initiated around the same time, yet the SIFCO flats faced delays, warranting a similar audit.

The foundation stone for the "SIFCO Hiyaa" flats was laid on November 26, 2014, with an initial completion deadline of 18 months. However, construction was delayed due to issues with the original contractor, leading to the project being handed over to China's The 23rd Metallurgical Construction Group. After more than nine years, the project was completed, and MNDF officers moved in last year.

The audit report on the POLCO flats revealed that the project cost exceeded MVR 1 billion which is twice the original estimate.

The report alleged that various agreements were structured to benefit certain individuals, leading to an order for an investigation to identify those responsible and take appropriate action.

The Anti-Corruption Commission is also proceeding the case as a priority.