The High court has frozen Sh2.8 million disguised as a parcel of text books belonging to a Nigerian National.
Judge Esther Maina certified the matter filed by the Assets recovery agency as urgent.
The judge directed the money be deposited in the Agency’s preservation account held at Kenya Commercial Bank Limited, KICC Branch.
Peter Olaiwon, a Nigerian National came to Kenya on October 1 this year. Documents filed in court by the Agency indicate he was then arrested and charged in court on November 8 with the offence of financial promotion of an offence.
The agency subsequently commenced investigations to recover proceeds of crime.
Investigations conducted by the Agency, the Directorate of Criminal and the Kenya Revenue Authority revealed that Olaiwon together with his accomplice one Linda Dye from USA South Carolina conveyed and received USD 28,000 (Sh 2,800,000)
The money was intercepted at City Square Post office within Nairobi County disguised and declared as a parcel containing text books and clothes while concealed in a Jacket.
The Agency told the court the manner in which the money was packaged raised reasonable suspicion of a money laundering scheme executed in an effort to conceal the nature, source and movement of the illicit funds.
“There are reasonable grounds to suspect the funds in issue may be a direct or indirect benefit, or proceeds of crime obtained from a complex money laundering scheme and are liable to be forfeited to the state,” said the Agency.
