The US and UK governments have imposed sanctions on Kamlesh Pattni, the controversial figure linked to Kenya’s infamous Goldenberg scandal, after he allegedly orchestrated another gold-related fraud in Zimbabwe. The new sanctions target Pattni, his brother-in-law Mukesh Mansukhlal Vaya, and several others connected to the illicit operation.
Pattni, whose actions in the 1990s cost Kenya over $200 million in a gold export scam, has reportedly repeated similar tactics in Zimbabwe through his company, Suzan General Trading. The Zimbabwean government was allegedly misled with inflated gold export figures, allowing Pattni to claim illegal incentives.
The US Treasury Department has frozen all assets linked to Pattni and his network within the United States. Any assets held by US persons are also required to be surrendered. Additionally, the US has blacklisted numerous companies associated with Pattni, spanning multiple countries, including the UK, UAE, and Kenya.
On the UK front, the National Crime Agency moved to freeze Pattni’s assets, citing his involvement in bribery and serious corruption linked to gold trading activities. The UK’s sanctions list also highlights Pattni’s continued role in global corruption through illicit gold operations.
This case echoes the 1991-1993 Goldenberg scandal in Kenya, where Pattni’s company, Goldenberg International, was accused of defrauding the government by inflating gold exports and receiving millions in government payments. Despite facing charges, Pattni was acquitted of criminal wrongdoing in Kenya.
Both the US and UK’s actions are part of a broader international push to combat corruption in the global gold trade, which often fuels criminal networks, human rights violations, and political instability. The sanctions are a significant blow to Pattni’s network, as they aim to dismantle the financial infrastructure behind these illegal operations.
