Audit report reveals operational and administrative issues at the Law Office

The Audit Office's 2023-2024 report on the Law Office highlights significant administrative and institutional weaknesses. A major finding is the accumulation of €26.3 million in uncollected fines, owed by 22,717 foreign debtors as of December 31, 2024. The audit identified flaws in the handling of fine warrant suspension requests, including a lack of priority processing and poor verification of applicant histories. In a sample of 35 cases, only 8 debtors were consistent with payments, while 12 made no payments at all following suspension approvals. Furthermore, the report notes poor documentation of court-awarded amounts and the loss or destruction of physical case files, which complicates debt calculation. The Law Office also faced delays in payments owed by the Republic, resulting in additional interest costs of €31,132 in a sample of 17 cases. The Audit Office has recommended improved internal control mechanisms, data reliability, and better use of information systems to address these systemic failures.