Netherlands Court of Audit to audit the cost to the government of the downing of flight MH17
The Netherlands Court of Audit will audit the costs incurred by the Dutch government as a result of the downing of Malaysia Airlines passenger aircraft MH17 above eastern Ukraine on 17 July 2014.
The audit will provide an insight into and assurances on the costs incurred by ministries, municipalities and other public bodies since the aircraft was brought down on a flight from Amsterdam to Kula Lumpur. All 298 passengers and crew members, including 196 Dutch citizens, lost their lives in the incident.
Under the Government Accounts Act 2016, ministers and the Houses of Parliament can ask the Court of Audit to audit a specific matter. The Court of Audit’s Board independently decides whether and how it honours such requests. On behalf of the government, the prime minister asked the Court of Audit by letter of 21 June 2021 to carry out this audit. The Board honoured his request on 3 November 2021; the first audit activities are already taking place. The audit will be carried out from the Court’s independent position, as laid down in the constitution and law, and funded from its existing budget in compliance with the international principles and standards of supreme audit institutions.
It is not yet known when the audit will be completed and the findings published.