US and UK unleash sanctions on gold smuggler Kamlesh Pattni’s vast empire
The United States and British governments have sanctioned prominent alleged gold smuggler and money launderer, Kamlesh Pattni, and his illicit network based in Zimbabwe and abroad.
Zimbabwe is reportedly losing at least US$100 million per month due to gold smuggling and money laundering.
To coincide with International Anti-Corruption Day, the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control imposed sanctions on 28 individuals and entities implicated in global gold smuggling and money laundering, including Pattni.
Pattni, accused of gold smuggling as revealed in Al Jazeera’s Gold Mafia documentary, has been accused by the US Treasury Department of facilitating illicit activities through bribery, concealment of ownership, and creation of a complex global network of businesses to disguise his illicit endeavors.
The sanctions, announced yesterday, target individuals and entities involved in the illicit gold trade, marking a significant effort to combat global corruption and money laundering.
The US Treasury contends that Pattni’s actions, exposed in Al Jazeera’s documentary Gold Mafia in March last year, have robbed Zimbabweans of benefits from natural resources, enriching corrupt officials and criminal actors instead.
Pattni’s network, according to the acting Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Bradley T. Smith, illustrates the globalised nature of corruption.
“Across the globe, when corrupt actors like Pattni choose to exploit openings in governance structures to benefit themselves and their cronies, communities suffer and public trust is undermined,” said Smith.
“Corruption respects no borders and its consequences are felt worldwide. As we mark International Anti-Corruption Day, the United States reaffirms our commitment to use all available tools to hold these individuals to account for their schemes.”
The UK has also imposed sanctions on Pattni, freezing his assets and those of other individuals involved in the illicit gold trade.
The British government stated that illicit gold fuels corruption, undermines the rule of law, and perpetuates human rights abuses like child labour.
Following the Gold Mafia expose, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe froze accounts of individuals named in the documentary, including Pattni, under pressure from civil society organisations.
Several entities have been linked to Pattni. These entities, spread across various countries, are accused of facilitating Pattni’s illicit activities.
One such entity is Sun Multinational DMCC, an ostensibly legitimate company based in the United Arab Emirates.
According to the US Treasury Department, Sun Multinational is ultimately wholly owned by Marwa Investments Limited, which in turn is owned by Mukesh Manuskhlal Vaya, Pattni’s long-time supporter and brother-in-law.
Sun Multinational has several subsidiaries and affiliated companies that are also implicated in Pattni’s illicit activities.
For instance, Fiza Gold and Bullion Trading LLC, Golden Luxury Jewellery Trading LLC, Memories Golden Jewellery LLC, and Ruhmeer Diamonds DMCC are all based in the UAE and have Rahul Sood, Sun Multinational’s managing director, as a manager or authorized signatory.
Additionally, Sun Star Travel & Tourism LLC, also based in the UAE, is part of the Sun Multinational group. Sahara Petroleum PTE LTD, based in Singapore, is owned by Rahul Sood, while Precious Bullion DMCC, based in the UAE, has Mukesh Manuskhlal Vaya as an authorized signatory.
Other entities linked to Pattni include Rubini Investment Group Limited, based in the British Virgin Islands, which previously controlled Pattni’s investments in real estate. Samaria Holdings Limited and Suzan General Trading JLT, both based in the UAE, are controlled by Pattni.
Manurama Limited, based in Kenya, and Suzan General Trading (PVT) LTD, based in Zimbabwe, are also controlled by Pattni. Skorus Investments (PVT) LTD, based in Zimbabwe, has Sanjay Keshavji Vaya, Pattni’s “right-hand man,” and David Paul Crosby as directors.
Several companies based in Kyrgyzstan, including Sakhara Petroleum OSOO, Mirdk Fyuels OSOO, Royal Sona OSOO, and Suprim Ef Iks OSOO, are controlled by David Paul Crosby, who is also a director of Skorus Investments.
These entities, spread across various countries, are accused of facilitating Pattni’s illicit activities, including gold smuggling and money laundering.
