Does State Audit Law or the Law for Safeguarding State Property Apply to You?

The State Audit Law promulgated by Sultani Decree 111/2011 (the “State Audit Law”) is applicable to:

• all companies wholly owned by the Government of the Sultanate of Oman (the “Government”); and

• companies in which the Government holds more than 40% of the share capital.

Each such entity is deemed to be a “Supervised Company.” It should be noted that, pursuant to the law on safeguarding of public property and preventing of conflict of interest promulgated by Sultani Decree 112/2001 (the “Law for Safeguarding State Property”), all employees of companies in which the Government holds more than 40% of the share capital would be considered government officials.

What does being a Supervised Company mean? 

Any entity which falls within the meaning of a Supervised Company should carefully consider the provisions of the State Audit Law. A Supervised Company, for example, has certain obligations including, pursuant to Article 5 of the State Audit Law, to provide State Audit with all draft regulations and systems prepared by it in relation to the Supervised Company’s financial and accounting affairs, taxes and charges.

State Audit also has the right, by virtue of Article 9 of the State Audit Law, to conduct financial and administrative control in all areas including control over investments and all accounts of a Supervised Company. In exercise of this right, under Article 10 of the State Audit Law, State Audit may review without prior notice:

(i) the investments of the Supervised Company;

(ii) any financial irregularities of its employees; and

(iii) any documents or records of the Supervised Company.

A Supervised Company is further under an obligation under Article 21 of the State Audit Law to provide State Audit with the following:

(1) its balance sheets and financial statements;

(2) final accounts and any adjustments or amendments thereto; and

(3) board and auditor reports and management letters approving them.

It should be noted that a Supervised Company has certain reporting obligations including to inform State Audit within one week of any discovery of any financial or administrative irregularity or occurrence of an incident that results in financial loss to the State or any matter than may lead to such loss without prejudice to the other legal procedures that shall be taken.

A Supervised Company should further be aware of the penalties for non-compliance with the State Audit Law. By Article 32 of the State Audit Law, anyone restricting the State Audit from reviewing any of the accounts, papers, documents or other things that State Audit has a right to review or anyone concealing the information, data or documents or submitting incorrect ones shall be penalised by imprisonment for between six to 12 months and/or a fine of between OMR 1,000 and OMR 2,000.

What does being a government official mean? 

A government official has certain responsibilities to prevent misuse of public property (i.e., any property or moveable assets owned by a Supervised Company), as provided by Article 5 of the Law for Safeguarding State Property, and is under a duty to inform State Audit immediately of any violations related to such public property.

Specifically, government officials should be aware that they are prohibited from the following:

(i) using their positions of work to realise a benefit for themselves or others or using their influence to facilitate others obtaining any interest or preferential treatment – this is particularly important when considering the awarding of tenders or contracts;

(ii) using public properties for personal reasons or in ways not intended for such property;

(iii) combining their positions or work and any other work in the private sector which relates to their positions or work; and

(iv) having any share in any company, establishment or profit-generating business directly or indirectly related to their positions or work (this prohibition extends to such government official’s minor children).

Further, government officials should be aware that, pursuant to Articles 12 and 13 of the Law for Safeguarding State Property, if requested by State Audit, they shall be required to disclose to State Audit all moveable monies and properties owned by them and their spouses and minor children and the monetary source of such ownership; and if they become aware of any secrets by virtue of their positions, they undertake not to disclose such secrets, even after the end of the employment relationship with the Supervised Company.

Any failure by a government official to comply with the abovementioned provisions or any other article as may apply under the Law for Safeguarding State Property could result in a government official being imprisoned for up to three years as well as being sacked from his/her position and confiscation of any amounts received in violation of the Law for Safeguarding State Property.