Lawyer warns against FIU boss absence

Private practice lawyer Jai Banda has warned that the lack of a director at the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) could expose some of the decisions of the anti-money laundering outfit to legal challenges.

Malawi has had no director of FIU since 2006 when Parliament passed the Money Laundering, Proceeds of Serious Crime and Terrorist Financing Act.

Section 13 of the Act provides that the President to appoint the FIU director on a five-year renewable term subject to approval by the Public Appointments Committee (PAC) of Parliament.

In an interview on Monday, Banda warned that the absence of the director could affect some cases as some people might challenge any action in court.

Since the law was put in place during the BinguwaMutharika administration, through the Joyce Banda regime, to the current one of President Peter Mutharika, no one has been appointed as director as all of them, including the incumbent Atuweni Tupochile Phiri have been acting.

The only time that the country would have had a director was in 2007 when Bingu appointed Amos Mbendera whom PAC rejected.

Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Development Goodall assured that the director will be appointed within a short period of time.