In an exclusive correspondence obtained by our source, the Deputy Head of the Libyan Audit Bureau addressed Law No. 19 of 2013, affirming that it grants the Bureau sufficient powers and responsibilities to curb corruption.
He highlighted Article 17, which authorizes the Bureau to request that relevant entities take necessary measures to recover public funds that were misused or spent in violation of laws and regulations.
Article 18 mandates the Bureau’s head to alert the Prime Minister or the concerned minister about any avoidable financial losses or unnecessary burdens on the state’s resources, applying the same scrutiny to laws and regulations.
Article 19 empowers the Bureau’s head to compel any employee within the audited entities or any public service official to reimburse funds they unlawfully disbursed or authorized.
Under Article 20, if financial misconduct is detected, the Bureau’s head has the authority to suspend the entity’s accounts and place them under ongoing audit until the issues are resolved.
Article 47 allows the Bureau’s head to suspend employees in audited entities for up to three months, extendable by the relevant disciplinary council.
The Deputy Head reminded the Bureau’s President that for the past decade, the Bureau has held the authority of prior oversight over all state contracts, including procurement, construction, and financial commitments. He emphasized that every contract covered by this provision had received the Bureau’s approval, questioning its current stance on corruption accountability.
