THE FINANCIAL Intelligence Centre (FIC) says the 2019 Trends Report will be released by Monday, August 31.

In June, FIC director general Mary Chirwa had said the internal report was ready, but was awaiting approvals from the board.

In a brief update, FIC acting director general Clement Kapalu said the Centre was still finalising the report.

“Nothing has changed. It will be out this month of August and we are just finalising it. So, there is no change from our earlier statement. Let’s say by month-end. It could be earlier, but definitely, by the 31st, it will be done,” announced Kapalu.

The FIC last revealed a 33 per cent increase in the amount of money Zambia lost to financial crimes from K4.5 billion in 2017 to K6.1 billion in 2018, according to their 2018 Money Laundering/Terrorist Financing Trends Report, which exposed unprecedented levels of corruption cases ranked the highest, with an estimated loss of K4.9 billion of the total amount.

Tax evasion ranked second with an estimated loss of K1 billion, while theft ranked third at K110 million.