Law applies to all colours – Carrim

IT does not matter what colour your skin is‚ you must abide by the law‚ MP Yunus Carrim said of the contentious Financial Intelligence Centre Amendment (Fica) Bill.

Carrim was speaking a day after Progressive Professionals Forum (PPF) president Mzwanele Manyi vowed to take President Jacob Zuma to court if he signs the bill into law‚ telling parliament the legislation would plunge the country into crisis.

Carrim, parliament’s finance committee chairman, countered yesterday that scrapping the bill‚ as Manyi proposed‚ would be disastrous for the economy‚ not just the financial sector.

Zuma returned the bill to parliament last year‚ citing concerns that a clause allowing for searches without a warrant was unconstitutional because it limited the right to privacy.

The PPF and the Black Business Council (BBC) have vehemently opposed the bill – written to combat corruption‚ white collar crime‚ terrorism and money-laundering by placing greater scrutiny on the financial affairs of prominent individuals and the politically connected.

Carrim told Radio 702 yesterday: “Essentially‚ the BBC and PPF argue that the unintended consequence of the bill is to victimise black‚ particularly African‚ business . . .

“We need to find the right balance. It doesn’t matter what colour your skin is‚ you must abide by the law and the practices that are legitimate‚ and don’t use this bill as an excuse.” – TMG Digital