Auditors' Double Standards: Who is Protecting Crime in the Veterinary Office?

The Veterinary Office of BiH received a positive opinion from the Audit Office of BiH Institutions, but Dževad Nekić, Deputy Auditor General, gave a dissenting opinion because his findings indicate otherwise, writes the Patria News Agency.

The irregularities identified by Nekić in the work of the Veterinary Office relate to engagement through service contracts, which has been a problem for this institution for years.

In Nekić's dissenting opinion, the amount spent on these purposes is KM 103,453, which is more than the amount spent in 2012 (KM 92,441, editor's note).

- It is materially significant, considering it represents 18.7 percent of the allocated funds for contracted and other special services and three percent of the total current expenditures. The qualitative aspect of materiality in the public sector plays a greater role than in other organizations, given that it concerns the public money of all citizens, whose spending should be transparent. Materiality is also important by its nature, especially considering that friends, relatives, and others are engaged in such an untransparent manner – the dissenting opinion states.

It is further stated that the engagement of such individuals is nepotism and cronyism, which are among the indicators of corruption in state institutions.

- For similar permanent engagements of individuals through service contracts, which were of a smaller scope and less materially significant, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Transport and Communications received a qualified opinion with reservations – Nekić stated.

It is now evident that the Audit Office also has double standards, and Auditor General Milenko Šego should answer why he gave a positive opinion to some institutions.

It is evident that certain institutions are being protected, because if they receive a qualified opinion with reservations, the case goes to the BiH Prosecutor's Office. Thus, this year, Ljubomir Kalaba, director of the Veterinary Office, will be at ease thanks to the Audit Office, NAP reports.