Zimbabweans Gain Path to Seize ED, Kamlesh Pattni’s Billions Following US Sanctions – Eduzim News

By A Correspondent | ZimEye | In a seismic development, dispossessed Zimbabweans now have a legal pathway to target and reclaim billions of dollars and gold stashed abroad by Kamlesh Pattni, a business partner of Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa. The announcement comes in the wake of sweeping sanctions imposed by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) on Pattni and his global network of businesses for their involvement in corruption and gold smuggling.

The sanctions, announced on International Anti-Corruption Day, are the culmination of a multi-year investigation led by ZimEye News Network and Al Jazeera’s Investigative Unit. The investigation, spanning 2015 to 2023, exposed Pattni’s elaborate schemes to siphon off Zimbabwe’s natural resources through bribery, fraud, and money laundering for the purpose of rigging elections.

A Path for Asset Seizure

U.S. sanctions on Pattni mirror global moves against illicit wealth, including the freezing and forfeiture of Russian oligarchs’ assets following sanctions over the Ukraine war. Legal experts suggest Zimbabweans and other affected parties can pursue similar actions to reclaim Pattni’s offshore wealth, potentially valued in billions.

Precedents, such as a £236,815.15 forfeiture against a UK scammer, underscore the possibility of attaching Pattni’s assets under U.S. and UK sanctions regimes. These measures target funds derived from corruption, enabling victims to recover stolen wealth through court-enforced forfeiture orders.

Pattni’s Web of Corruption

The U.S. Treasury detailed Pattni’s operations, accusing him of orchestrating a “global gold smuggling and money laundering network” that exploited Zimbabwe’s natural resources. By bribing officials and deploying trusted associates, Pattni concealed his illicit activities through a complex web of companies in jurisdictions such as the UAE, Singapore, and the British Virgin Islands.

Key to Pattni’s schemes was his use of trusted supporters, including relatives and close allies, to mask ownership and facilitate illegal transactions. Among his front companies are Sun Multinational DMCC, Fiza Gold and Bullion Trading LLC, and numerous others, all implicated in smuggling and laundering funds derived from Zimbabwean gold exports.

Zimbabwe’s Dispossessed Citizens Stand to Benefit

The sanctions highlight the systemic looting of Zimbabwe’s natural wealth, depriving its citizens of critical resources for infrastructure, education, and economic development. Bradley T. Smith, Acting Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, condemned Pattni’s actions, stating, “Corruption respects no borders, and its consequences are felt worldwide. These sanctions demonstrate our commitment to holding these actors accountable.”

Zimbabwean activists and anti-corruption campaigners have welcomed the sanctions, emphasizing that this opens a new chapter for justice and restitution. Pressure is now mounting on the Zimbabwean government to cooperate with international enforcement efforts to recover the stolen wealth.

Next Steps for Justice

Pattni’s designation under Executive Order 13818 freezes all U.S.-linked assets and prohibits transactions with him or his network. Entities and individuals facilitating transactions with Pattni risk secondary sanctions, further isolating his operations.

This landmark action signals hope for Zimbabweans seeking justice and accountability for decades of exploitation. Legal experts urge victims and advocacy groups to act swiftly, leveraging the sanctions to initiate asset recovery and reparations.

As the investigation continues to unfold, the spotlight remains on how Zimbabwe’s government and international partners will collaborate to dismantle Pattni’s network and restore stolen wealth to its rightful owners.

This story is developing, and more updates are expected in the coming weeks.

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