The UK and US governments have imposed sanctions on Kamlesh Pattni, a British-Kenyan businessman, for his alleged involvement in the illegal gold trade.
According to a statement from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, the assets of Kamlesh Pattni and four others, including his wife and brother-in-law, will be frozen.
Pattni’s name was implicated in one of Kenya’s biggest corruption scandals, the Goldenberg scandal, which is believed to have cost the country at least $600 million (£470 million). He has since faced allegations of involvement in the illegal gold trade in Zimbabwe, which he has previously denied.
‘Illegal gold is an attack on the legitimate trade in a valuable commodity, fuels corruption, undermines the rule of law and reinforces human rights abuses such as child labour,’ the UK statement said.
The statement said Russia was using illicit gold to finance its war in Ukraine.
Britain and other Western countries had banned the import of Russian gold in 2022 to prevent Moscow from financing the war.
According to the US Treasury, Pattni was friends with former Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and used this relationship to make money by exploiting the country’s natural resources.
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