PHOTO; New building constructed by FIU boss Edwin Harris
By Our Reporter
The Director General of the Financial Intelligence Unit of Liberia (FIU), Edwin W. Harris wants his asset appraised by the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC), the FIU disclosed in Monrovia today, Friday, May 13, 2020.
Mr. Harris made the request in a letter to the LACC dated May 11, 2022, a copy the FIU has released to the media, after constructing a new building.
It is not stated when the construction work started or ended.
Edwin Harris, FIU Director General
In his letter, the FIU boss said: “I request that you send an appraiser to appraise the value of a newly constructed building in my compound so as not to be in contravention of section 10.3 of the code of conduct for public officials.”
Section 10.3 of the code of conduct titled “sanctions for false declaration” states:
“Every Public Official and Employee of Government shall declare and affirm that his or her declaration is accurate to the best of his or her knowledge. Any statement in such declaration found to be false upon verification shall lead to summary dismissal and other measures provided by law.”
Mr. Harris was appointed by President George Manneh Weah as head of the FIU in October 2019 and he replaced Mr. Alex Cuffy, whose tenure had expired months earlier.
In Part IX sections 10.1 and 10.2 of the code of conduct says:
10.1 “Declaration of Assets and Performance Bonds Every Public Official and Employee of Government involved in making decisions affecting contracting, tendering or procurement, and issuance of licenses of various types shall sign performance or financial bonds and shall in addition declare his or her income, assets and liabilities prior to taking office and thereafter:
- at the end of every three years;
- on promotion or progression from one level to another;
- upon transfer to another public office; and
- upon retirement or resignation.
10.2 Repository and contents of Declaration The declaration of personal interest, income, assets, liabilities and the performance bond as may be required, shall be lodged with • In the Legislative Branch, with the Secretary of the Senate and the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives; • In the Executive Branch, with the General Auditing Commission; and • In the Judicial Branch with the Clerk of Supreme Court; and in each event such receipt shall be notified to the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC). All such declarations shall be accessible to both the public employer and the general public upon a court order; as well as to the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) and the General Auditing Commission (GAC) for investigative purposes. The declaration shall be promptly updated by Public Officials and Employees of Government upon subsequent changes in his or her interest and/or assets. Each declaration along with the updates thereto shall include disclosure of income, assets, liabilities, net worth, financial and family interests held by the official.”
Below is FIU Director General’s letter to the LACC:
