The UK and US governments have slapped sanctions on British-Kenyan businessman Kamlesh Pattni and four associates, including his wife and brother-in-law, over alleged involvement in the illicit gold trade.
The sanctions, announced by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office, include freezing their assets. Pattni has been linked to the infamous Goldenberg scandal in Kenya, a 1990s gold and currency fraud that cost the country an estimated $600 million. He has also faced allegations of smuggling gold from Zimbabwe—accusations he denies.
The UK statement highlights how illicit gold trading fuels corruption, undermines the rule of law, and contributes to human rights abuses such as child labor. It also alleges that Russia uses illegal gold to launder money and evade sanctions, bolstering its war efforts in Ukraine.
Pattni, who later became a self-proclaimed pastor, has been accused of exploiting his ties with Zimbabwe’s former president Robert Mugabe to profit from the country’s natural resources at the expense of its citizens.
The sanctions aim to disrupt Pattni’s business dealings, with the US Treasury describing his network as spanning multiple countries. The announcement follows a recent UK government initiative to combat global corruption.
