Assets Recovery Agency wants Ksh287M belonging to two foreigners transferred to State
The Assets Recovery Agency now wants Ksh287 million in accounts belonging to two foreigners transferred to the government of Kenya as they are proceeds of crime.
The agency, in documents filed before the Anti-Corruption High Court Division, wants the funds belonging to the suspects identified as Jean-Paul Tshikangu Musangu (Belgium) and Venan Mabiala Ma Mabiala(Congolese) held in two accounts at Stanbic Bank forfeited to the State as the same was acquired through money laundering.
The two foreigners are directors of Group Elykia Limited which is a London-based company.
The money which the agency wants to be forfeited is $1,747,105.15 (Ksh197M) held in the name of Group Elykia Limited, $305,950.87 (Ksh37m) held in the name of Masangu and $488,423.25 (Ksh53M) held in the name of Mabiala, all at Stanbic Bank.
Further, ARA wants motor vehicle registration number KDE 033S Mercedes Benz, registered under the name of Mabiala also forfeited to the government since it is believed to have been bought at Car Warehouse Limited using proceeds of crimes.
"The court is pleased to issue an order declaring the funds and the motor vehicle are proceeds of crime and liable to forfeiture to the government of Kenya," ARA stated in the court papers.
The agency through lawyer Mohamed Adow sought to have the funds and motor vehicle preserved on grounds that the same are proceeds of crime since the two foreigners are suspected to be part of a complex money laundering scheme in the country.
Adow states that there is sufficient evidence that the funds in the foreigners' accounts are proceeds of crime, adding that they have not provided any evidence indicating its legitimate sources hence liable for confiscation under the Proceeds of Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Act.
In an affidavit filed by the investigating officer Fredrick Musyoki, investigations have revealed that the firm and its directors, used the accounts in question as conduits of money laundering under the pretence of supplying wood/timber from the Democratic Republic of Congo to foreign jurisdictions.
