Monrovia – The Executive Director of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), Mr. Alexander Cuffy, has tendered in his resignation to the Office of the President.
Mr. Cuffy in his resignation letter, a copy which FrontPageAfrica has obtained mentioned that his decision to quit the job is based on the need for him to attend to pressing family matters which require his “continuous physical presence outside Liberia.”
Presidential Press Secretary, Mr. Solo Kelgbeh, told FrontPageAfrica that he is not aware of any such letter reaching the office of the President from Mr. Cuffy when contacted for comments. He said he could not confirm or deny the resignation.
However, FrontPageAfrica gathered from Executive sources that President Weah rejected Mr. Cuffy’s resignation.
The resignation letter is dated August 19, 2019. According to the letter which was addressed to President George Weah, Mr. Cuffy is opting to cease to occupy the position effective October 1, 2019.
In his resignation letter to the President, Mr. Cuffy assured the Pres. Weah that while he is still at the FIU, he would continue to work on key assignments assigned to him by the President including the pending revised laws and regulations including the pending revised laws and regulations including drafting, validation, and submission to the Office of the President of Liberia; preparation of Liberia’s 10th Follow-Up Report (FUR) due August 30, 2019 ahead of the GIABA/ECOWAS Technical and Plenary Meetings scheduled for 6th to 15th November 2019; and assist in completing the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing (ML/TF) National Risk Assessment (NRA). The NRA is a self-assessment of the ML/TF threats and vulnerabilities of Liberia. Liberia is required to complete an NRA as a prelude to its 2nd Mutual Evaluation process.
The FIU was instrumental in the investigation of the L$16 billion from the Central Bank of Liberia and the US$25 million intended to mop up excess liquidity in the Liberian economy.
The Unit is also responsible to investigate and track illegal financial transactions, money laundering and other illicit financial flow.