Missing US $50 million corruption case

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Missing US $50 million corruption case
Missing US $50 million corruption case

Africa-Press – Seychelles. New amended charges against Mukesh Valabhji and Sarah Zarqani Rene

No charges against Laura Valabhji, Lekha Nair and Maurice Loustau-Lalanne
Following the amendment of the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Act, 2020 by the National Assembly on Wednesday, new charges have been brought against Mukesh Valabhji and Sarah Zarqani Rene, while no charges have been brought against former accused Laura Valabhji, Lekha Nair and Maurice Loustau-Lalanne.

They were previously being accused in relation to the missing US $50 million donated to Seychelles in 2002 by the Abu Dhabi government.

The amendments now give the Anti-Corruption Commission of Seychelles (ACCS) more powers to investigate and prosecute offences of conspiracy and attempt as well as offences of money laundering committed prior to the enactment of the Act, while it also extends the commission’s asset recovery powers following conviction for offences committed prior to the enactment of the same Act.

In a motion filed before the Supreme Court yesterday, the ACCS requested that new amended charges are brought against Mrs Zarqani Rene and Mr Valabhji, while the former accused will give evidence for the prosecution in the case.

A total of 15 charges have been brought up against the two, including ten (10) for Mr Valabhji and four (for Mrs Zarqani Rene), alongside a joint charge.

Mr Valabhji has been charged with:

(Count 1 ) conspiracy to steal contrary to sections 260, 265 and 381 of the Penal Code and punishable under ss.265 and 381 of the Penal Code,

(Count 2) official corruption, contrary to section 91 of the Penal Code and punishable under s.9l of the Penal Code,

(Count 3) in the alternative to Count 2,

(Count 4) conspiracy to launder money, contrary to section 3(l)(a) and 3(2)(a) of the Anti- Money Laundering Act 1996 and punishable under s.3(3) of the same Act,

(Count 5) official corruption, contrary to section 91 of the Penal Code and punishable under s.9l of the Penal Code,

(Count 6) in the alternative to Count 5,

(Count 7) money laundering, contrary to section 3(1)(a) of the Anti—Money Laundering Act 1996 and punishable under s.3(3) of the same Act,

(Count 8) money laundering contrary to section 3(1)(C) of the Anti-Money Laundering Act 2006 as amended and punishable under s.3(4) of the same Act,

(Count 9) abuse of authority of office, contrary to section 96 of the Penal Code and punishable under s.96 of the Penal Code,

(Count 10) abuse of authority of office, contrary to section 96 of the Penal Code and punishable under s.96 of the Penal Code.

As for Mrs Zarqani Rene, she has been charged with:

(Count 1) money laundering contrary to section 3(l)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering Act 1996 and punishable under s.3(3) of the same Act,

(Count 2) money laundering, contrary to section 3(l)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering Act 1996, and punishable under s.3(3) of the same Act,

(Count 3) money laundering, contrary to section 3( 1 )(c) of the Anti—Money Laundering Act 2006 as amended by the Anti-Money Laundering (Amendment) Act 2008 and punishable under s.3(4) of the same Act,

(Count 4) money laundering, contrary to section 3(1)(c) of the Anti-Money Laundering Act 2006 as amended by the Anti-Money Laundering (Amendment) Act 2008, and punishable under 33(4) of the same Act.

The two are being jointly charged for conspiracy to launder money, contrary to sections 3(l) (a) and 3(2) (c) of the Anti-Money Laundering Act 2006 and punishable under than s57(1) of the same Act.

As for Maurice Loustau-Lalanne and Lekha Nair, charges were withdrawn against them pursuant to agreements in principle between each of them and the Commissioner of the ACCS that they will give evidence for the prosecution in this case.

The ACCS withdrew the charges currently brought against Laura Valabhji, pending further investigation, responses from foreign jurisdictions to its numerous evidential requests and financial details, and a review of the digital material seized in the investigation – of which there are over 500 seized electronic devices – and the sift of the sequestered material that is awaiting consideration of a legal professional privilege review.

ACCS Commissioner May De Silva said: “The substituted criminal charges put before the court today are a continuation of the complex and extensive investigation the ACCS is undertaking into the decades that Mukesh Valabhji held public office. Throughout this lengthy investigation we continue to uncover more evidence, and as other citizens of Seychelles come forward, we will leave no stone unturned, wherever in the world it is has been hidden. The message must go out that crime does not pay and that no one is untouchable.”

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