South African "Scorpions" boss to join World Bank

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The head of South Africa's Scorpions crime-fighting unit, Leonard McCarthy, was appointed on Monday to head the World Bank's anti-corruption unit.

World Bank President Robert Zoellick, in a statement, said South African President Thabo Mbeki had agreed to release McCarthy from service to take up the position as vice president of the bank's Department of Institutional Integrity on June 30.

The World Bank unit investigates fraud and corruption in development projects financed by the global development agency.

"Leonard McCarthy is recognized worldwide for his integrity, independence and effectiveness in fighting corruption and strengthening good governance," Zoellick said.

McCarthy's appointment comes a day after Mbeki's government approved disbanding the FBI-styled Scorpions, bowing to pressure from supporters of rival Jacob Zuma who accused it of political abuse.

The governing African National Congress, led by Zuma, voted to get rid of the unit, officially known as the Directorate of Special Operations, last year.

The Scorpions, which was independent of the police and reports to the National Prosecuting Authority, was established to fight high-profile corruption cases and scored successes against organized crime in a number of cases.

McCarthy has held numerous positions in government, including investigating director in the Office for Serious Economic Offenses, deputy attorney general of the Cape and senior public prosecutor.

(Reporting by Lesley Wroughton; editing by Leslie Adler)