Panic At Victoria Commercial Bank As State Moves To Recover Goldenberg Saga Proceeds Of Crime
There is panic mode at the Victoria Commercial Bank as the state seeks to recover the Goldenberg saga proceeds of crime.
According to media reports, auctioneers have attached assets belonging to Goldenberg scandal architect Kamlesh Pattni (pictured) over Sh2.2 billion tax arrears.
Auctioneers appointed by Kenya Revenue Authority last week entered the warehouse of Suzan Duty-Free within the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and attached several assets, including assorted alcoholic beverages and a truck.
An inventory of office equipment and electronic appliances was also done pending a public auction.
The taxman is seeking to recover Sh2,207,884,743 from Pattni’s company, an amount that includes unpaid principal taxes of Sh748,427,763 and interest of Sh1,459,456,980.According to KRA, Suzan Duty Free is linked to Diplomatic Duty Free Ltd that is owned by Pattni.
A lot has been said about the Goldenberg scandal but all the blame and the axe fell only on Kamlesh Pattni, while other people that made a cameo appearance in the scandal walked away unscathed, some opening money laundering outfits like Victoria Commercial Bank.
Kamlesh Pattni never committed these crimes alone, he used bankers, partners and one of the most important people of his cabinet was none other than Kanji Damji Pattni.
According to close associates of Kanji Damji Pattni Kamlesh Pattni’s wife Minal Pattni and her mother, Anjana Morarji are always the Victoria Commercial Bank founder’s house.
In 2003, during an inquiry on Goldenberg, Kanji Pattni was immensely mentioned as the courier to Kamlesh Pattni, revealing how he made money to open a bank just after the scandal. It is suspected that Kamlesh Pattni is a faceless owner of the Victoria Commercial Bank.
Mr Pattni had indicated that the Sh10 million a month was to go to his cousin, Mr Kanji Damji Pattni so he could pay “the authorities” to obtain the licence.
Mr Justice Aganyanya, the inquiry’s vice chairman said: “We have checked the Hansard report and are satisfied that names of Prof Saitoti, Gideon Moi and June Moi were not mentioned as the persons who demanded Sh10 million to assist Aurum Ltd to get a licence to deal or export gold. It is actually a man called Kanji Damji who mentioned the figure of Sh10 million which was required for those who intended to assist that company to acquire the requisite licence.”
