AG’s Office: No extension granted for submission of financial statement

The Auditor General has not granted any extension to the duration for submission of financial statements, says Auditor General’s Office.

The AG Office issued a statement on Wednesday in which it said the Maldivian Constitution and laws obligate State officials and individuals charged with certain responsibilities and duties by the State to submit financial statements and declare their assets, financial assets, businesses they have shares in, and income and credit within a specific duration once a year.

The AG Office clarified that the Auditor General does not have the authority to extend or amend the duration in any way. And that the Auditor General has not extended the duration for anyone.

The AG Office’s statement follows comments by Ibrahim Muaz Ali, the Spokesperson at President’s Office regarding talk over failure of President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom to submit his financial statements.

Muaz said last Wednesday that the AG Office sent a letter to President’s Office this week granting and extension and permitting Yameen to submit his statement before the end of his presidential term this November.

He said that all discussions regarding Yameen’s financial statements were carried out under the counsel of the Auditor General.

But the AG Office said in its statement that communications regarding submission of financial statements are not carried out through employees of his/her office, but that such communications are made directly with the person who is required to submit the financial statements.

The AG Office also stated that it does not reveal details of the procedure for submission of financial statements with any other party expect for authorized investigative authorities.