DRI finds irregularities in Serbia's budget 2018 balance sheet and RTS business

DRI report says that the 2018 balance sheet hasn't reported the cost of some procurement worth 4.5 billion Dinars at least. It adds the balance sheet includes money for 95 projects that have not been realised.

"In the process of determining the results in 2018, DRI discovered that at least 16.9 billion Dinars and expenses of at least 821.6 million Dinars were not reported," the Institution said.

It added that, among other irregularities, some managing of the financial area was done improperly. Also, the data on received donations registered by the Treasury Administration did not cover all donations.

Regarding the state RTS TV, DRI found irregularities in the procurement of at least 439.89 million Dinars, in billing and paying the wages, as well as in profit distribution and the payment.

"RTS has raised wages based on shift work as a new element contrary to the law and allocated 29 million Dinars for that in 2018," the DRI report said.

It adds that RTS hasn't paid at least 50 percent of its profit reported in the 2017 balance sheet worth 767.89 million Dinars into the state coffers. Neither it has obtained the Government's approval to cover the previous losses from the 2017 profit as obliged by the Law on Serbia's Budget for 2018.