Frank violations in the conduct of public procurements in our country and billions of BGN that were illegally spent. This is clear from the published report of the State Financial Inspection Agency for 2023, which was also adopted by the caretaker government at the regular cabinet meeting on Wednesday.
From the data it is clear that for the last year the inspectors from ADFI completed 454 financial inspections and checks related to the spending of public funds. A total of 519 reports and requests for financial inspections were received during the reporting period. Of these, 481 are signals and requests that are within the competence of ADFI, and 38 were forwarded under the competence of other state bodies.
As in the previous reporting period, as well as in 2023, the largest share of all financial inspections carried out are those in the municipalities (57%). The press service of the Council of Ministers emphasizes that the identified non-targeted funds are in the total amount of BGN 3,851,959, of which BGN 2,543,929 have been recovered by the end of the financial inspections. In 27 financial inspections and checks, 53 indicators of fraud were found.
In 29 financial inspections of recipients (beneficiaries) of funds under EU funds and programs, violations were detected and registered in the spending of funds provided under 35 financing contracts.
Billions sunk
Last year, 303 inspections focused on the awarding and execution of public contracts, which is 67% of all performed financial inspections. 1,407 public procurements were checked, in which nearly BGN 4.8 billion were spent. Violations were found in 592, or 42% of all inspected public procurements.
The culpably caused damages of the inspected organizations and persons established during the financial inspections are in the total amount of BGN 418,323, and their reduction compared to the previous year is BGN 3,276,305 or 87%. Damages recovered are BGN 201,724, or 48% of the total established in 2023. During the financial inspections, damages in the amount of BGN 131,703 were recovered. We found 779 violations of normative acts governing budgetary, financial-economic and reporting activity and 737 AUAN were drawn up against the responsible persons.
1,404 acts for the establishment of administrative violations (AUAN) were drawn up, of which 131 were against individuals and 94 against legal entities.
A total of 591 units were issued. penal decrees. Of these, 391 were issued under the AUAN drawn up in 2023, and 200 were issued under the AUAN drawn up in the previous reporting period. Of the total issued criminal decrees, 41% were confirmed by the court, 5% were canceled and 54% did not enter into force, as they were appealed or were not served on the offenders.