CSOs CALL FOR CORRUPTION VICTIM COMPENSATION

BY PIJ REPORTER

Civil society organisations have urged the United Kingdom's National Crime Agency (NCA) to compensate victims of corruption linked to Zuneth Sattar, a British man of Malawian origin. Mr Sattar faces allegations of bribery, money laundering and fraud, which are currently under court proceedings and investigation.

In a joint letter to the NCA, Malawi's Youth and Society (YAS) and the UK's Spotlight on Corruption called for collaboration with the Crown Prosecution Service, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) and other government departments to ensure that victim compensation is prioritised from the outset of investigations.

"Integrating compensation into the preparation of any case that proceeds to trial is essential for delivering justice," said YAS Executive Director Charles Kajoloweka in a statement.

The statement highlighted the UK's obligations under the UN Convention against Corruption, which emphasises the importance of compensating victims of corruption. It noted that the NCA committed in 2018 to the 'General Principles to Compensate Overseas Victims (Including Affected States) in Bribery, Corruption and Economic Crime Cases'.

According to these principles, the NCA must consider compensation in all relevant cases and use available legal mechanisms to secure it.

"It’s disappointing that these commitments have not yet translated into significant compensation for victims in most international corruption cases heard in the UK since the principles were published in 2018," Mr Kajoloweka said, adding that ensuring victims of corruption receive proper compensation is a fundamental aspect of holding corrupt actors accountable and achieving justice.