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The UK and US governments have imposed sanctions on a British-Kenyan businessman over his alleged involvement in the illicit gold trade.<\/p>\n
Kamlesh Pattni, and four others including his wife and brother-in-law, will have their assets frozen, a statement from the UK Foreign and Commonwealth and Development Office<\/a> read.<\/p>\n He was implicated in one of Kenya’s biggest corruption scandals, Goldenberg, which is believed to have cost the country at least $600m (\u00a3470m). He has since faced allegations of involvement in the illicit gold trade in Zimbabwe, which he has previously denied.<\/p>\n The BBC has asked him for comment.<\/p>\n “Illicit gold is an assault on the legitimate trade of a valuable commodity, fuelling corruption, undermining the rule of law, and entrenching human rights abuses such as child labour,” read the UK statement.<\/p>\n It goes to say that Russia uses illegal gold to fund its war in Ukraine.<\/p>\n “Russia uses the illicit gold trade to launder money and evade sanctions, and in doing so bolsters [President Vladimir] Putin’s war efforts.”<\/p>\n