Malawi govt appoints Financial Intelligence Unit boss: Atuweni-Tupochile Phiri

Malawi Government has appointed Mrs. Atuweni-Tupochile Phiri as Director of the Malawi Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU).

Her appointment is with effect from 2nd December 2014, according to communication from the Chief Secretary to the Government,  George Mkondiwa.

She was on an acting capacity from August 2012.

“This is a significant development for the country as it will improve the rating at regional and international levels on the country’s commitment towards fighting money laundering and terrorist financing,” said Mkondiwa.

“ We are hopeful that she will be confirmed by the Public Appointments Committee of Parliament very soon. “

Mrs. Phiri joined the FIU in 2008 as Policy and Legal Advisor.

Apart from being one of the technocrats who took part in the development of the Money Laundering, Proceeds of Serious Crime and Terrorist Financing Act which was passed in 2006, she has been very instrumental in various achievements of the Malawi FIU over the years among them: · the FIU’s admission as a member of the EGMONT Group of FIUs in 2009; · uncovering of fraud scams in the public sector through analyses of financial transactions  and capacity building of financial institutions in the country on their anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) obligations.

Others include; capacity building of law enforcement agencies; · leading Malawi’s participation in activities of the Eastern and Southern Africa Anti- Money Laundering Group (ESAAMLG); · entering into memorandum of understanding with law enforcement agencies and regulatory bodies such as the Malawi Police Service, Malawi Immigration Department, Revenue Authority and Reserve Bank of Malawi; · entering into memorandum of understanding with other FIUs like United States of America, Denmark, France, Kenya, Macedonia, Mauritius, Namibia, Nigeria, Philippines, South Africa, Tanzania, Taiwan, United Arab Emirates, Zambia and Zimbabwe;.

Phiri is a holder of Master of Law (LL.M) in Public International Law obtained from Oslo University in 2004 and Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) degree obtained in 2001 from the University of Malawi.

She is a certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist and a trained AML/CFT assessor under the 2012 Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Recommendations and Mutual Evaluation Procedures.