the Moka District Council, he will state if his Ministry will initiate an inquiry into the alleged case of m…
(No. B/494) Dr. Ms B. Thannoo (Second Member for Quartier Militaire & Moka) asked the Minister of Local Government whether, in regard to the Moka District Council, he will state if his Ministry will initiate an inquiry into the alleged case of mismanagement of the finances thereof over the past ten years.
Reply: I wish to inform that my Ministry has been apprised of serious allegations of mismanagement of public funds and breaches of procurement procedures at the District Council of Moka over the last decade. Firstly, following a preliminary internal assessment and findings, the former Chief Executive of the Council was interdicted from duty with effect from 05 February 2025, in accordance with Regulation 31 of the Local Government Service Commission Regulations 1984. The Local Government Service Commission has been duly notified. Secondly, a team from the Internal Control Unit of the Ministry of Finance is currently conducting a detailed inquiry into cases of mismanagement relating to procurement exercises. In parallel, the District Council of Moka has initiated a review of its procurement practices to ensure strict compliance with the Public Procurement Act 2006, its associated regulations, and directives issued by the Procurement Policy Office. In addition to these actions, my Ministry has been informed by the Council that the Financial Crimes Commission (FCC) is presently conducting a Financial Crimes Prevention Review (FCPR). This statutory review, undertaken under Section 6(2)(i) of the Financial Crimes Commission Act 2023, focuses on all procurement exercises carried out at the Council during the last ten years. Its objective is to uncover financial irregularities, promote legal compliance, and issue formal recommendations to strengthen financial governance and accountability mechanisms. Given the scope and seriousness of this independent review by the FCC – an institution empowered by law to investigate corruption and financial crimes –, it would be advisable to await the outcome of the FCPR before initiating any additional or parallel inquiries. I wish to reaffirm this Government's unwavering commitment to transparency, good governance, and zero tolerance for corruption across all local authorities. Should the hon. Member or any other party possess verifiable evidence of specific malpractices or fraudulent acts, I invite them to submit such information directly to the FCC.
128 LAND RESEARCH & MONITORING UNIT – ALLEGED LAND DISPOSSESSION – LEGISLATION AMENDMENT