The Officer-In-Charge of the Financial Intelligence Agency (FIA), Mohammed Nasser, has requested the General Auditing Commission (GAC) to conduct an audit to verify a US$92,000 debt left by the previous administration.
Nasser made this request at the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs, and Tourism (MICAT) headquarters in Monrovia, disputing the claimed amount.
Nasser informed reporters that prior to assuming office, he received a report indicating the agency owed $92,000, encompassing salaries, internet, and LEC bills from 2019 to the present.
He expressed disbelief that a government entity could accumulate such significant debts for basic expenses, prompting his call for an audit by the General Auditing Commission to investigate the matter thoroughly.
Before leading the FIA, Nasser served as Director of Internal Audit at the Ministry of Public Works from 2009 to 2012, later joining the Internal Audit Secretariat (IAS) in 2012.
According to him, he has more than 15 years of experience working with the public, private, and civil society organizations, as well as donor-funded projects, including those supported by the World Bank.
To prevent future occurrences, he revealed that they have established an inter-ministerial committee chaired by the Ministry of Justice, involving various government ministries and agencies to address critical issues at the FIA.
Nasser emphasized their commitment to submitting regular reports to the committee for evaluation on agency operations.
He highlighted efforts to enhance financial crime prevention across different sectors, collaborating closely to gather essential information for effective preliminary investigations on money laundering and related offenses.
“We have initiated meetings with reporting entities, including the real estate sector and the Liberian National Lottery Authority, to ensure compliance with regulations and enhance our operations,” he stated.
He further noted that officers of the agency have been deployed to various border points of Liberia to ensure that large sums of money transported out of Liberia are declared publicly, addressing the issue of money laundering.
The Financial Intelligence Agency of Liberia is mandated with gathering, analyzing, and disseminating financial intelligence concerning money laundering, terrorist financing, and related offenses, crucial for safeguarding Liberia’s financial system and economy.
