UK slaps 22 individuals with sanctions over graft

The United Kingdom on Monday sanctioned 22 individuals accused of perpetrating international corruption in South Sudan, South Africa, Latin America and Russia. The sanctions were meted by imposing asset freezes and travel bans.

The Government of the United Kingdom announced the sanctions in a press release by Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab (pictured).

According to the foreign secretary, the sanctions—meted in the new Global Anti-Corruption regime—are to stop corrupt individuals from ‘using the UK as safe haven for dirty money.’

“New sanctions regime stops those involved in serious corruption from entering and channeling money through the UK,” notes the document.

Raab said that individuals involved in some of the world’s ‘most serious cases of corruption will no longer be able to channel their money through UK banks or enter the country.’

According to Mr Raab, the tainted profiteers of the dirty money will no longer reap from the UK economy.

The UK government argues in the press release that its action is motivated by the move to salvage the global trade which loses two per cent of its GDP to graft in similar fashion, as well as suffering a ballooning cost of doing business by 10 per cent.

The UK government partly notes in the press release: ‘‘Corruption also threatens our national security by exacerbating conflict and facilitating serious and organised crime, creating space for terrorist and criminal groups like Daesh and Boko Haram to operate.

‘‘This new regime will allow the UK to combat serious corruption, in particular bribery and misappropriation. It will promote effective governance, robust democratic institutions and the rule of law – demonstrating our power as a force for good around the world.’’

Raab speaks

Raab said, “Corruption has a corrosive effect as it slows development, drains the wealth of poorer nations and keeps their people trapped in poverty. It poisons the well of democracy.

“The individuals we have sanctioned today have been involved in some of the most notorious corruption cases around the world.

“Global Britain is standing up for democracy, good governance and the rule of law. We are saying to those involved in serious corruption: we will not tolerate you or your dirty money in our country.’’

Implicated in the sanctions is Sergei Magnitsky, a Russian who is accused of diversion of ‘$230 million of Russian state property through a fraudulent tax refund scheme.’

The others are named as Ajay, Atul and Rajesh Gupta and Salim Essa who are also accused of graft-related practices in South Africa.

Back home, Sudanese businessman Ashraf Seed Ahmed Hussein Ali, widely known as Al Cardinal, has been accused of colluding with ‘South Sudanese elites to misappropriate of significant amounts of state assets.’  Such acts have been cited as the contributors to state instability.

Since its inception in July 2020, the UK government has imposed on 78 individuals and entities involved in ‘serious human rights violations’ including from Myanmar, Belarus, China and Russia.