Speaker proposes suspention of AG for misuse of fund

Speaker of parliament Anu Vehviläinen on Monday proposed suspention of Auditor General Tytti Yli-Viikari until completion of the ongoing preliminary investigation into alleged misuse of fund by her.

The Chancellery Committee is scheduled to discuss the suspension issue on Tuesday to take an action in this regard, said parliament in a press release.

The AG is the head of the National Audit Office of Finland (VTV), which monitors the use of government money.

According to a media report published recently, Yli-Viikari spent about 4,729 euro of public money on hairdressing and beauty services during 2018 to 2020.

The report, published by a Finnish language evening tabloid, the Iltalehti, said the AG also used the official credit card for her personal expenditures.

The speaker believes that such allegations against the key person of the VTV undermine the image of the organisation.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has initiated the preliminary investigation into the alleged misuse of state fund by the AG.

After the meeting of the Chancellery Committee, the speaker will talk to the media on Tuesday.