[2022] KEHC 983 (KLR)

[2022] KEHC 983 (KLR)

The court found that the Applicant had proved on a balance of probabilities that the funds in the Respondents' bank accounts were proceeds of crime. The evidence showed that Kimaco Connections Limited was a shell company lacking the capacity to undertake the alleged software contract, with no credible business...

Source-derived case information.

Citation
[2022] KEHC 983 (KLR)
Parties
Applicant: Assets Recovery Agency; Respondent: Kimaco Connections Limited; Respondent: Peter Kiilu Makau t/a Pescom Kenya
Court
High Court
Court Station
High Court at Nairobi (Milimani Law Courts)
Jurisdiction
Kenya
Case Number
Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Case E004 of 2021
Procedural Posture
Civil Forfeiture Application / Judgment
Outcome
application_allowed
Judges
EM Muchoki
Legal Topics
Proceeds of Crime, Money Laundering, Asset Forfeiture, Burden of Proof, Third Party Protection, Bank Account Freezing
Source Language
en
Criminal Law Civil Procedure Banking and Finance Proceeds of Crime Money Laundering Asset Forfeiture Burden of Proof Third Party Protection +1 more

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Parties

Assets Recovery Agency

Applicant

Kimaco Connections Limited

Respondent

Peter Kiilu Makau t/a Pescom Kenya

Respondent

Procedural Posture

Civil Forfeiture Application / Judgment

  1. 1 Whether the funds held by the Respondents are proceeds of crime and hence liable to forfeiture.
  2. 2 Whether the Interested Party has met the threshold for third party protection under Section 93(1) of the Proceeds of Crime & Anti-Money Laundering Act.
  3. 3 What are the appropriate reliefs?

Ratio Decidendi

The court found that the Applicant had proved on a balance of probabilities that the funds in the Respondents' bank accounts were proceeds of crime. The evidence showed that Kimaco Connections Limited was a shell company lacking the capacity to undertake the alleged software contract, with no credible business history or financial standing to justify the large sums received. The contracts presented were found to be afterthoughts, and the movement of funds—including transfers to related parties and individuals connected to the Interested Party—demonstrated a scheme to launder money. The Respondents failed to provide a convincing explanation for the source and use of the funds, and their...

Court Disposition

application_allowed

Orders

  • A declaration is issued that Kshs. 251,154,214.00 at Diamond Trust Bank, Kshs. 50,269,766.33 at Cooperative Bank (both in the name of Kimaco Connections Limited), and Kshs. 2,496,670.75 at NCBA Bank (in the name of Pescom Kenya) are proceeds of crime.
  • An order of forfeiture to the Government of Kenya is issued in respect of the above funds.