Auditor General to audit all political parties

The Supervisor of Elections Mohammed Saneem is currently awaiting a special audit of all political parties by the Auditor General.

Saneem says he asked the Auditor General to conduct the audit to assess the funding of the political parties and the declarations made.

When questioned by Fijivillage on the process undertaken to check the declarations made by the parties and candidates under the Political Parties Registration, Conduct, Funding and Disclosures Act, Saneem says they are waiting for the audit and some parties may not be declaring their source of funds through some fundraising activities.

He also says that they have found out that a registered political party does not have a bank account.

Saneem says more will be revealed in the audit report. 

According to the Political Parties Act, the sources of funds for a political party shall only be from membership fees; voluntary contributions, donations, grants from a lawful source, not being from a foreign government, inter‑governmental or non‑governmental organisation; and the proceeds of any investment, project or undertaking in which the political party has an interest.

A political party and an independent candidate for election to Parliament shall disclose to the Registrar full particulars of all funds or other resources obtained by it from any source.

An official of a political party or other person required to disclose to the Registrar, on behalf of a political party, the funds or other resources of that political party, who fails to disclose, or gives false information in relation to the funds or resources obtained by the political party, commits an offence and shall be liable upon conviction to a fine equal to the amount or the value of the resources not disclosed or in relation to which false information was given, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years or to both.

According to the act, no person shall, in any one year, contribute to a political party or to an independent candidate for election to Parliament an amount exceeding $10,000 in cash.

A person who contravenes this commits an offence and shall be liable upon conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years or to both.

This does not apply to any contribution or donation made by any founding member of the political party as his or her contribution to the initial assets of the party within the first year of its existence.

It is also unlawful for any political party, office holder of a political party, candidate for election to Parliament or agent, campaigner or servant of a political party or candidate for election to Parliament to accept any political donation or any contribution unless the political donation or contribution is from an individual.

The law also states that it shall be unlawful for any political party, office holder of a political party, candidate or agent, campaigner or servant of a political party or candidate to accept any political donation or any contribution from a company, a body corporate or any other entity.

It is also unlawful for a company, a body corporate or any other entity to make, and for any political party or candidate for election to Parliament to accept from a company, a body corporate or any other entity - the provision of accommodation (including office accommodation), vehicles, computers or other equipment for no consideration or inadequate consideration for use solely or substantially for election campaign purposes,  the full or part payment of expenditure for advertising by a political party or a candidate and the waiving of all or any part of payment of expenditure for advertising by a political party or candidate.