MOSCOW, June 23 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's top auditing agency on Friday accused customs bodies of wasting tens of millions of dollars in treasury money.
The Audit Chamber said the Federal Customs Service had failed to efficiently use a $140 million loan disbursed for its IT upgrading by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD). The loan was borrowed against government guarantees, and has been serviced using only federal budget funds.
"The implementation of a project to upgrade the customs agencies' IT network was moving at a slow pace in 2003-2005. Of the $50.99mln earmarked under a foreign borrowing program, only $26.9mln was used. As a result, some $60,000 had to be paid to the IBRD in compensation for the unspent amount," the chamber said in a news release.
It said the customs service had failed to submit a pre-investment feasibility study and concluded only 30 contracts for the supply of IT goods and services, falling 12 deals short of the target.
