THE Auditor-General's Office (AGO) report on accounts of government entities and statutory bodies for the financial year 2015/16 has uncovered "irregularities" in the way the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) subscribed to telecommunication services.

These lapses had resulted in overpayments totalling S$109,868, and wastage amounting to S$80,744 in the areas test-checked by AGO.

AGO found that MFA did not carry out proper verification of invoices to ensure that the rates and amounts billed and paid were correct.

MFA also did not conduct proper monitoring and review of the need for mobile lines, and continued to subscribe to lines that were no longer needed.