The SAO audited organisations co-financed by the state budget that are under the authority of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Press Release – March 1, 2012
The audit revealed that in 2009 three of the audited allowance organisations and in 2010 all four audited organisations violated the accounting regulations and failed to keep clear and complete accounts.
Chateau Štiřín violated the State Property Act when procured an automobile and concluded an agreement concerning the use and a follow-up transfer of the vehicle into the state property (a leasing agreement). In 2009 and 2010, Chateau Štiřín committed a breach of budget rules when drew state budget funds in the amount of CZK 353,199 without justification. Until the completion of the auditing operation, the Ministry did not conduct any public administration controls at Chateau Štiřín in spite the auditor repeatedly issued Adverse Opinion reports.
In 2009, the Office for the Czech participation in EXPO 2010 procured works of art and informational technology for the Czech Pavilion and included the procurements into the balance sheet – article Buildings.
In several cases, Diplomatic Service in 2009 and 2010 and the Office for the Czech participation in EXPO 2010 in 2010 failed to observe the subject-matter definitions in the balance sheet or income statements.
During the audited period, Chateau Štiřín utilised reserve funds in violation of the Act No. 218/2000 Sb., on budget rules.
Diplomatic Service, Czech Centres, and Chateau Štiřín failed to observe the State Property Act when concluding some contracts.
The SAO recommends that budget rules are elaborated in details, especially the articles dealing with the utilisation of reserve funds in case allowance organisations use the funds to span the disharmony of incomes and expenditures.
The auditing operation was performed from May to November 2011. The audited period were years 2009 and 2010; where relevant, the data from the previous period and the period until the completion of the auditing operation were also scrutinized. The audited bodies were: the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Diplomatic Service, Czech Centres, the Commissioner General Office for the Czech participation in EXPO 2010, and Chateau Štiřín. The auditing operation was included into 2011 Audit Plan of the SAO under No. 11/10. Antonín Macháček, Member of the SAO Board, managed the operation and prepared the audit conclusion as well.
Communication Department
Supreme Audit Office