Auditor General Hussain Niyazy has reported that forged documents were used to seek substantial payments from the state, funds to which the claimants were not legally entitled. His disclosure, made during a session of Parliament's Public Accounts Committee, drew attention to growing concerns over fiscal fraud and the safeguarding of public finances.
In testimony before lawmakers, Niyazy stated that his office had identified several cases where documents, suspected to be forged, were submitted in claims for goods and services ostensibly provided to the state.
"We [the Auditor General’s Office] do not serve as an investigative body; however, we are actively engaged in verifying these claims by securing original documents from banks and other pertinent institutions, as well as obtaining statements from individuals allegedly involved in the signing of these documents," Niyazy said.
Four ongoing audits, he added, involve questionable claims amounting to more than USD 6.49 million. The findings, he said, would be instrumental in equipping the Attorney General's Office to defend the state in related legal proceedings.
Beyond individual claims, Niyazy pointed to systemic vulnerabilities in public contracting. He noted that prematurely terminated agreements have repeatedly exposed the state to significant financial liabilities. To address these risks, he proposed that contracts include clearly defined caps on claimable amounts, protections that may require amendments to current legislation. The auditor general also called for an end to the misuse of forged documentation in attempts to secure public funds.
The committee was also briefed on the financial reporting status of state-owned enterprises (SOEs). Of these, 16 had submitted their financial statements by the required deadline, with three additional filings received by 19 June, according to Niyazy, while submissions from 10 SOEs remained pending at the time of the session.