The Financial Intelligence Centre has established a forensic unit to help the government fight corruption and prosecute complex financial crimes, part of an effort to have South Africa removed from a global watchdog’s dirty-money watchlist.
The unit, which opened on Saturday, will complement the FIC’s existing structures, the centre’s executive manager, Christopher Malan, said. It’s expected to help expedite asset forfeiture and prosecutions, he said.
The FIC is mandated to assist in identifying the proceeds of crime, and combating money laundering, the financing of terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
Having forensic capacity will help ensure that matters can be taken to court quicker, especially when it comes to dealing with major corruption and state capture-related crimes, he said.
