Adhadhu has learnt that one of the invoices submitted by Centre Enterprises against the Department of Medical Services in the Civil Court, in which the court ruled in favour of paying MVR 32 million to Centre Enterprises, was forged.
The forged invoice was uncovered during a special audit by the Auditor General's Office into the Department of Medical Services' pending payments to Centre Enterprises.
Sources who spoke to Adhadhu about the audit said the forged invoice was submitted in 2006 to claim that a Maldivian medical consumable importer provided goods worth MVR 12.4 million to Centre Enterprises on credit.
However, Adhadhu can confirm that the invoice is not valid. The transaction alleged in the invoice was never carried out by the medical consumable importer.
In addition to the letterhead and bismillah used in the invoice, the company information section at the bottom of the letterhead was also missing. Sources confirmed to Adhadhu that the contact listed on the invoice was never an employee at the medical consumable importer.
Using the forged invoice, Centre Enterprises tried to show that the goods were issued on credit. However, the medical consumable importer informed the audit office that it did not have the capacity to issue goods worth MVR 12 million on credit.
The company informed the auditors that some of the equipment on the invoice was not goods sold by them.
According to the Civil Court ruling, Centre Enterprises filed the case seeking MVR 32 million due for two unpaid invoices and MVR 51 million as the penalty for non-payment.
Among the documents submitted by Centre Enterprises to prove the charges was the forged invoice worth MVR 12.4 million.
The state argued that the service was never obtained from Centre Enterprises and the documents submitted did not prove anything. They also asked the court to dismiss the case on the grounds that there was no agreement for the transactions.
Among the documents submitted by Centre Enterprises to prove the case, one of the most important documents that ended the case in their favour was a letter from the Department of Medical Services. The letter states that the tender has been awarded to the company and the department will pay when the goods included in the quotation are sent by the company.
Ruling in favour of Centre Enterprises, the Civil Court judge noted that the evidence submitted proved that the goods on the two invoices included in the transaction were delivered. One invoice is worth MVR 26 million. The other invoice is worth MVR 6 million.
The court found this to be proven by reference to the "goods order form" and the "delivery notes". Both documents submitted by Centre Enterprises had the seal of the Department of Medical Services.
In addition, the Finance Ministry issued a letter to the Department of Medical Services stating that it had received the goods and to pay the money.
The ruling ordered to pay the money to the civil court within 30 days from February 10. However, the state appealed the case to the High Court. The High Court registry shows that the court has not yet decided whether to accept the case.
