564 Files in Motor Traffic Dept. Misplaced &Under Valuing Vehicles Caused Billions losses to the State
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) submitted in parliament yesterday (23) disclosed that the Department of Motor Traffic has misplaced 564 vehicle files. ”The Auditor General’s Department pointed out that only 33 files have been received so far in response to the order given to submit 597 files and in addition to that any of the information asked for has not even been submitted”
The Committee has directed the Chief Accounting Officer to submit a report within a month indicating the methodology adopted to trace the remaining files and a specific time line in that regard. The PAC has found that an officer involved in the questionable activities had been appointed as the Head of the Committee appointed to investigate the missing vehicle files.
The report reveals that information about 164 vehicles available with the Department does not tally with those of the Customs. As for the fraudulent registration of seven new Prado vehicles with the help of Customs Notes for importation of hand tractors, the Accounting Officer has stated that the advice of the Attorney General had been sought to cancel the registration of the vehicles at issue. The PAC has called for disciplinary inquiries against the officers responsible the fraud.
The PAC observes that a loss of Rs 7.7 million has been incurred to the state due to the undervaluing of two BMW M-5 vehicles with a cylinder capacity of 4395 CC. The Department has said that an inquiry in this connection was in progress, it has agreed to submit a report on the issue to the Committee.
The PAC has observed that the tax losses caused by the import of 407 SUVs was approximately Rs 3 billion. However, the Accounting Officer of the Department has denied the occurrence of any loss, he has claimed that a special committee appointed by the President was investigating the matter. The PAC has warned that it will report to the President and Prime Minister if the Department fails to improve its performance.
