The UK and US governments have placed sanctions on prominent British-Kenyan businessman Kamlesh Pattni, spotlighting his alleged role in the illicit gold market that spans several African nations, particularly Kenya and Zimbabwe.
UK Targets Kamlesh Pattni with Sanctions Over Gold Smuggling Network
UK Targets Kamlesh Pattni with Sanctions Over Gold Smuggling Network
International authorities move against a businessman entangled in corruption and gold trafficking schemes
The sanctions target Pattni and four associates—including his family members—freezing their assets under the auspices of the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office, which released a statement highlighting Pattni’s long history of involvement in the illegal gold trade. The businessman is notably connected to the Goldenberg scandal, one of Kenya’s largest corruption crises, which is estimated to have cost the nation around $600 million (£470 million). Furthermore, he stands accused of influencing the Zimbabwean gold sector, claims he has vehemently denied.
The UK's official statement points to the dangers posed by illicit gold, emphasizing its role in fostering corruption and human rights violations, such as child labor. It asserts that the illegal gold trade also enables Russia to launder funds and evade economic sanctions, particularly those imposed to mitigate Moscow's war efforts in Ukraine. Previous bans on Russian gold imports initiated by Western nations, including the UK in 2022, aimed to curtail these activities.
Pattni’s past is marred by allegations stemming from the 1990s Goldenberg affair—an extensive gold and currency fraud nearly leading to Kenya's financial downfall. Despite facing a 2006 trial, charges against him were dismissed. Remarkably, Pattni later re-emerged as a self-styled pastor. The US Treasury indicates that he maintained connections with former Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and exploited these ties to maximize profit at the expense of the country’s resources and populace.
Additionally, Pattni found himself implicated in a recent Al-Jazeera investigation into the so-called "gold mafia" in Zimbabwe but continues to deny accusations of money laundering and gold smuggling. The sweeping sanctions signal a broader initiative by the UK government to confront global corruption in the wake of growing concerns about corrupt practices undermining democratic institutions and rights around the world.
