DIRECTOR of Public Prosecutions Gilbert Phiri is right to say a law firm is not a vault for suspicious money. Yes, lawyers owe their clients confidentiality. Yes, legal professional privilege is a cornerstone of justice. But no, that privilege was never designed to shield criminal conduct or frustrate lawful financial oversight. This debate has exposed a tension that must be handled soberly. On one side is the Financial Intelligence Centre’s mandate under the FIC Act to supervise reporting entities and ensure they are not abused for money laundering and other serious crimes. On the other side is the duty of lawyers to preserve advocate-client confidentiality. Both are legitimate concerns. But the bigger danger lies in creating a blind spot around...