Jean Phillipo-Priminta
Lilongwe,Malawi
Summary
Lawyer, academic and prosecutor with extensive experience in financial crime prosecution and law enforcement, including financial intelligence matters and financial sector regulation. Proven expertise in anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) within Africa and beyond, with a strong track record in asset recovery initiatives. Skilled in leading multi-agency teams and drafting key policy documents to enhance AML/CFT strategies for Malawi and the global community. Demonstrated ability to collaborate with international counterparts. Prolific designer and facilitator of impactful trainings on financial crimes and asset recovery.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
9
9
years of post-secondary education
1
1
Certification
Work history
Director-Financial Crimes
Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs
Lilongwe, Malawi
2026.04 - 2026.06
- I am responsible for oversight of all AML/CFT work within the Directorate of Public Prosecutions; Coordinating prosecution of financial crime cases, planning and delivering financial crime trainings; Coordinating with other law enforcement agencies and other relevant authorities on financial crime matters.
Director General
Financial Intelligence Authority
Lilongwe
2022.06 - 2026.03
- I successfully led the Financial Intelligence Authority to achieve its strategic mandate efficiently, such as receipt, analysis and dissemination of financial intelligence; coordinating national AML/CFT initiatives such as risk assessments, supervision and regulation of the financial sector, legal, policy and institutional reforms to ensure Malawi complies with FATF Standards; coordinating AML/CFT work in Malawi and collaborating with regional and global organisations and networks.
Chief State Advocate -Director of the Asset Forfeiture Unit
Ministry of Justice
Lilongwe
2019.05 - 2022.05
- Successfully prosecuted financial crime cases including money laundering; Led the coordination of asset recovery work throughout Malawi as Director of the Asset Forfeiture Unit.
Senior Deputy Chief State Advocate
Ministry of Justice (State Advocate Chambers)
Blantyre
2016.09 - 2019.05
- Prosecuted financial crime matters; Writing legal opinions; Gave legal advice to government departments; Supervised junior lawyers and paralegals within the Department; Coordinated asset recovery work.
Senior Assistant Chief State Advocate
Ministry of Justice (State Advocate Chambers)
Blantyre
2014.09 - 2019.05
- Efficiently prosecuted criminal cases; Wrote legal opinions; Gave legal advice to government departments; Efficiently supervised junior lawyers and paralegals within the Department.
Senior State Advocate
Ministry of Justice (State Advocate Chambers)
Blantyre
2006.12 - 2014.09
- Represented the Director of Public Prosecutions in criminal matters; Wrote legal opinions.
Junior Researcher
Basel Institute on Governance (Switzerland)
Basel
2013.02 - 2013.07
- Offered efficient research support to Asset Recovery Specialists at the Institute's International Centre for Asset Recovery.
Education
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) - Transnational Criminal Justice and Crime Prevention: An International and African Perspective
University of the Western Cape & Humboldt University
Cape Town 2012.01 - 2016.07
Master of Laws Degree (LL.M) - Transnational Criminal Justice and Crime Prevention: An International and African Perspective
University of the Western Cape
South AfricaBachelor of Laws degree (LL.B) - Law
University of Malawi
Zomba, Malawi 2003.01 - 2007.01
Skills
- Basic computer skills in Microsoft word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook
- Strategic visioning
- Effective public speaking
- Regulatory compliance knowledge
LANGUAGE SKILLS
English : Fluent in reading and speaking
Fluent
French : Basic (elementary) in reading and speaking
Beginner
Certification
- Certificate of completion: OECD Tax Crime Academy Training Program on Anti-Money Laundering: Current Trends, Prosecutions, and the Challenges Around Crypto Assets (2020)
- Certificate of completion: ARINSA Asset Management Training Workshop, Cape Town (2019)
- Certificate of completion: Non-Conviction-Based Confiscation. International Centre for Asset Recovery, Lilongwe, Malawi (2019)
- Certificate of completion: ESAAMLG AML/CFT Assessors Training; Lilongwe, Malawi (2018)
Affiliations
- Sponsored the successful Egmont membership applications for the FIUs of the Republic of Eswatini (2025) and the Republic of Madagascar (2025)
- Law Enforcement Expert in the Mutual Evaluation of Angola (2023)
- Member of the Malawi Council of Legal Education (2020 to present date)
- Malawi Government Expert for the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) Implementation Review Mechanism (2020)
- Member of the National Anti-Money Laundering and Combating Terrorist Financing Committee (2017 up to date)
- Member of the National Anti-Money Laundering and Combating Terrorist Financing Task Force responsible for Malawi's Mutual Evaluation Process (2017-2022)
- Law Enforcement Expert in the Mutual Evaluation of the Republic of Kenya (2009-2010)
- Asset Recovery Inter-Agency Network for Southern Africa (ARINSA) Contact Point for Malawi (2018-2022)
Lecturing Experience
Institution : University of Malawi
Post : Part-time Senior Lecturer (Illicit Financial Flows) LL.M in Democratic Governance.
Period : 1 April 2026 to date.
Institution : Malawi University of Science and Technology
Post : Part-time Senior Lecturer (Innovation Law) Master’s Degree Program.
Period : 8thNovember 2017 to December 2020.
Institution : Catholic University
Post : Part-time Senior Lecturer (Human Rights Law) Bachelor of Laws Program.
Period : 13th September 2016 to 31 January 2018.
REFEREES
- Atuweni-Tupochile, Agbermodji, Regional AML/CFT Advisor, atuweni.agbermodji@un.org, +254768658053, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC-ROEA), UN Complex Gigiri, Block-6, Nairobi, Kenya, 00100
- Mary, Kachale, Principal Secretary, marykachale@yahoo.com, +265982740500, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, P/Bag 30315, Lilongwe
- Martha Sika, Chizuma, Sr. Integrity Risk Specialist – AFE Prevention, Risk &Knowledge Management (PRKM), mchizuma@worldbank.org, +1 (771) 250-6537, The World Bank Group, 1818 H St. N.W., Washington, DC, 20433
Timeline
Director-Financial Crimes
Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs
2026.04 - 2026.06
Director General
Financial Intelligence Authority
2022.06 - 2026.03
Chief State Advocate -Director of the Asset Forfeiture Unit
Ministry of Justice
2019.05 - 2022.05
Senior Deputy Chief State Advocate
Ministry of Justice (State Advocate Chambers)
2016.09 - 2019.05
Senior Assistant Chief State Advocate
Ministry of Justice (State Advocate Chambers)
2014.09 - 2019.05
Junior Researcher
Basel Institute on Governance (Switzerland)
2013.02 - 2013.07
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) - Transnational Criminal Justice and Crime Prevention: An International and African Perspective
University of the Western Cape & Humboldt University
2012.01 - 2016.07
Senior State Advocate
Ministry of Justice (State Advocate Chambers)
2006.12 - 2014.09
Bachelor of Laws degree (LL.B) - Law
University of Malawi
2003.01 - 2007.01
Master of Laws Degree (LL.M) - Transnational Criminal Justice and Crime Prevention: An International and African Perspective
University of the Western Cape