Financial Crimes Court comes to life

Minister of Justice Titus Mvalo has said the establishment of the Financial and Economic Crimes (FCC) Division of the High Court of Malawi signifies government’s commitment to fight corruption and financial crimes in the country.

The minister said this yesterday when the Judiciary launched the specialised court at the High Court premises in Lilongwe.

In a speech made available to The Nation, Mvalo said the court will help judicial officers to attain skills and specialisation that will be vital in the war against corruption and financial crimes.

He said: “A country that is committed to deal with corruption must, among other measures, ensure corruption cases are processed with speed and diligence.

“Executive will do its part, and so will the judiciary, but the war will not be won unless we all join hands as Malawians.”

Mvalo also said government is developing a law for protection of whistle-blowers to complement the function of the new court

“The law once promulgated will go a long way in assisting investigators, prosecutors and this court in corruption and financial crimes. The law will be introduced in Parliament once all consultations are exhausted,” he said.

The launch was among others graced by Chief Justice Rizine Mzikamanda, Attorney General Thabo Chakaka Nyirenda, Director of Public Prosecutions Masauko Chamkakala, British High Commissioner Fiona Ritchie and Malawi Law Society  president Patrick Mpaka.

In his remarks, Mzikamanda said the establishment of the court does not mean that the Judiciary was not fighting financial crimes as other courts were executing the cases.

He, however, asked the government to provide enough financial support to enhance its functions.

“Well-financed court will go a long way in enhancing the fight against corruption as its evils and dangers are obvious.

“Corruption causes the ordinary citizens to suffer and it retards development of the nation,” said Mzikamanda.

Mpaka, on the other hand, appealed to the authorities to be aggressive in empowering the new division.

He said there are only three judges assigned to the new established financial crimes court which is headed by Justice Redson Kapindu.

UK High Commissioner Fiona Ritchie, in a post on social media platform X, said she was delighted with the launch of the new court, as it is a critical addition to the anti-corruption architecture in the country.

“UK continues to work with Malawi’s Law Enforcement Agencies in the fight against corruption, including the establishment of the FCC,” she said.

President Lazarus Chakwera directed Minister of Justice Titus Mvalo to establish the court in May, 2022 as a way of making sure that financial crimes and corruption cases are expedited in the country.

In October 2020, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development said Malawi was losing five percent of its total wealth annually to illicit financial flows.