Date: September 4, 2023.
Nairobi, Kenya – In an ongoing legal saga spanning continents, Bruton Gold Trading LLC, a Dubai-based gold trading firm, is pursuing new freezing orders against the Registrar of the Kenyan Courts of Judicature, Ms. Anne Amadi, her son Brian Ochieng, and two others following an alleged gold export fraud. The company claims to have lost $742,206 between September 22 and October 21, 2021, and seeks justice through Kenya’s legal system.
The Court of Appeal has granted Bruton Gold Trading LLC the opportunity to challenge the decision to unfreeze the bank accounts of Ms. Amadi, her son, and their associates. The firm alleges that police investigations revealed that Ms. Amadi received some of the funds in question, prompting them to request new freezing orders on the affected bank accounts.
The case has been deemed urgent, with the judge instructing all parties involved to await the formation of a three-judge panel to hear the appeal. Bruton Gold Trading LLC contends that the bank account to which they wired the money is registered under Amadi & Associates Advocates and was opened by Ms. Amadi after her appointment to the Judiciary. The $91 million deposited into the firm’s account was reportedly withdrawn in cash by Ms. Amadi’s son, Brian Ochieng, Andrew Njenga Kiarie, and Daniel Mureithi.
In addition to seeking new freezing orders, Bruton Gold Trading LLC is also pursuing the stay of a High Court case aimed at disqualifying Justice Alfred Mabeya. The Dubai firm alleges bias on the part of Justice Mabeya, claiming that he prematurely exonerated Ms. Amadi and her son before a full hearing could take place. They insist that due process was not followed when the parties applied to unfreeze their accounts, as the applications were not initially certified as urgent.
Furthermore, Bruton Gold Trading LLC has raised concerns about alleged tampering with documents filed in the case. They assert that documents filed on May 17, 2023, mysteriously disappeared from the judiciary’s e-filing portal, only reappearing on May 29, 2023, after their lawyers physically visited the Court to lodge a complaint.
Amid these legal maneuvers, Bruton Gold Trading LLC has expressed apprehension that individuals within the Judiciary might be interfering with their case, potentially affecting the outcome. The company’s concerns underscore the importance of transparency and the rule of law as the legal proceedings continue to unfold.
