Mauritius requests member states to reject Financial Intelligence report

Dharmendar Sesungkur

Mauritius’ Minister of Financial Services and Good Governance, Dharmendar Sesungkur has appealed to Zambia’s Minister of Finance Margaret Mwanakatwe to reject the Mutual Evaluation Report (MER) done by the Secretariat of the Eastern and Southern Africa Anti-Money Laundering Group (ESAAMLG).

In a letter dated 25th June 2018 and delivered to Zambia’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Emmanuel Mwamba Mauritius has strongly objected to the Mutual Evaluation Report (MER) requesting Zambia and other member states to reject the report.

Mr. Sesungkur has stated that the report had numerous incorrect facts and wrong conclusions.

Mr. Sesungkur says Mauritius doubts the accuracy and completeness of the information submitted by Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU).

Mauritius has called for the review of the Report.

Mauritius has stated that the report must be with-held until such a time that procedural impropriety and the concerns on the  issue of quality and consistency were addressed.

Mauritius also stated that the Financial intelligence Unit (FIU) had not been sharing with law enforcement agencies and competent authorities strategic analysis on trends and patterns on money laundering and terrorism financing.

Mauritius stated that most of the information highlighted by the Financial Intelligence Unit(FIU) were resolved by the investigative, law enforcement agencies and other competent authorities.

In submitting to the evaluation exercise, Mauritius wants to strengthen its process to fight money laundering activities but said the evaluation had was full of inconsistencies and numerous shortcomings.

ESAAMLG is a Regional Body subscribing to global standards to combat money laundering and financing of terrorism and proliferation.

The 18 Member countries are; Angola, Botswana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

This is contained in a statement issued to QTV News by Zambia High Commission in South Africa First Secretary Press and Public Relations Naomi Nyawali.