The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) has frozen Uebert Angel‘s accounts over alleged gold smuggling, money laundering, bribery, and other corrupt activities. Through the Financial Intelligence Unit, RBZ also froze the accounts of Ewan McMillan, Kamlesh Pattni and Simon Rudland stating that it is taking a strong stance against money laundering and is tracking activities that could expose further money laundering by the alleged gold Mafia.
The “gold mafia” were reported to banks on March 30, listing all their accounts and assets, including balances, The Herald reported citing sources from within the central bank.
Banks were instructed to freeze the accounts and not transfer any funds until investigations are completed by the Financial Intelligence Unit. This directive is effective immediately.
The Al Jazeera documentary – Gold Mafia – captures Uebert Angel offering to use his diplomatic cover to launder large amounts of dirty cash into Zimbabwe, alongside gold smuggling. He repeatedly name-drops the President’s name.
Kenyan-born Kamlesh Pattni is also shown as able to help launder over $100 million. Ewan McMillan and Simon Rudland are portrayed as smugglers, dealing with Fidelity Printers and Refiners to deliver gold bought from small-scale miners to the refinery and then exporting it to Dubai, allegedly providing hard currency for Zimbabwe and laundering millions of dollars.
Other accounts frozen:
The Financial Intelligence Unit also directed banks to freeze the assets of Cleopas Chidodo, David Chirozvi, Mehlululi Dube, and Fredrick Kunaka, as seen in an earlier memo.
Chidodo is the Head of Security at the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe, who was captured in Episode 2 of the documentary detailing how he assists gold smugglers in avoiding detection as they transport their contraband to Dubai via Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport.
Chirozvi is the Head of Finance at the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe’s Aurex Jewellery, while Kunaka is the general manager of Fidelity Printers and Refiners. Kunaka allegedly received a monthly kickback of US$30 000 from the gold mafia, while Dube, associated with Golden Beryl Private Limited, was allegedly paid US$3 000 per month by the gold smuggling syndicate. The four have been aiding criminal elements in smuggling gold and abusing their positions.
Information, Publicity, and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa announced on Monday that the Zimbabwean government was acting on the allegations raised in the Al Jazeera documentary. She said the government had directed relevant organs to investigate the issues raised. The minister emphasized that boastful behaviour and name-dropping by some personalities featured in the documentary should never be taken as an enunciation of government policy.
Meanwhile, some are sceptical that the accounts have been frozen. They believe the announcement is meant to hoodwink the public into believing that action was being taken against the “gold mafia.”