WASHINGTON, Feb 5, 2022 (BSS/AFP) - The International Monetary Fund has
appointed former Bundesbank President Jens Weidmann to head an independent
expert panel following allegations of data tampering against IMF chief
Kristalina Georgieva, the body said Friday.

   Georgieva was engulfed in controversy last year after an investigation
concluded that during her tenure at the World Bank, she was among top
officials who manipulated data from its closely watched Doing Business report
in favor of China.

   Georgieva has denied those allegations and her role as IMF's executive
director was reaffirmed in October.

   The expert group "will conduct an independent review with a view to
identifying how the Fund can ensure it has in place robust and effective
channels for complaint, dissent and accountability," the IMF said in a
statement.

   "This will include reviewing the framework for addressing complaints
applicable to the Managing Director and Executive Board officials," the
statement went on.

   The panel is expected to finalize a report and submit recommendations to
the Board of Directors by the end of March 2022.