DRI calls for broader scope of audit

BELGRADE - The State Audit Institution (DRI) intends to increase the number of entities subject to audit and to broaden its scope, which will require more manpower, DRI Head Radoslav Sretenovic said on Thursday.

"We want to deliver as many quality reports as possible and recommend amendments to laws and regulations, and in order to achieve this, we need more quality personnel,” said Sretenovic presenting the 2013 work report before the Serbian parliament.

DRI had 201 employees at the end of last year, including 163 working in audit services, he added.

DRI has fully accomplished the tasks planned for the previous year, published 66 audit reports, conducted an audit of the National Bank of Serbia (NBS), two agencies, 18 public enterprises, 24 local self-government units, one clinical center, Stefanovic pointed out.

The first audit of functionality was conducted, DRI addressed the implementation of the Law on Public Procurement, and the most serious irregularities found in the course of audits related to the property and obligation lists, which were not properly maintained.

Local self-governments did not fully comply with the Law on Budget System, as violations were recorded in 23 out of the 24 subjected to audit, noted Sretenovic.

"One municipality's bank account was blocked for 256 days in a calendar year," Sretenovic said, adding that DRI requested that the causes of that practice be analyzed urgently and that all measures be taken to protect public resources and put an end to such conduct in local self-government units.

Due to the established irregularities, DRI filed 208 requests for the start of misdemeanor proceedings, 18 charges of economic offense and 51 criminal charges.