Registrar refers SODELPA and their auditor to FICAC

The Registrar of Political Parties, Mohammed Saneem has referred SODELPA to FICAC for breaches of the Political Parties Act.

Saneem says SODELPA has failed to particularize the exact sources of the funds the party received from 2015 to 2019, and many disclosures to the Registrar noted as bulk payments are not permitted by law and exceed the maximum donation requirements.

He says such manner of recording income also prevents the Registrar from verifying the exact amount of donations that a person has made.

The Registrar says in 2015, SODELPA failed to issue receipts for $290,883.00, in 2016 the party failed to issue receipts for $304,129.90, in 2017 SODELPA failed to issue receipts for $415,864.71, in 2018 the party failed to issue receipts for $507,938.88, in 2019 SODELPA failed to issue receipts for $471,184.05 as required under section 17 of the Political Parties Act.

Saneem has also found that Ratu Silivenusi Waqausa, the late Pio Tabaiwalu, Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu, Adi Litia Qionibaravi who held official positions for SODELPA had failed to disclose information in relation to the funds obtained by the party.

The Registrar says due to the high number of instances of the breaches and also the lack of compliance with accounting rules and standards, in particular, the raising of receipts, doubt is cast on the Audit Report received by the Registrar.

Saneem has also referred the independent auditor, I. Naiveli and Company to FICAC under the Political Parties Act.