Mr Howard Sharp QC was instructed in a major case involving money laundering over a two year period.
Windward Trading Limited pleaded guilty to four counts of money laundering in Jersey’s Royal Court on 24th February 2016.
The Court imposed a confiscation order of £3.6 million that stripped the company of all its assets that constituted the proceeds of crime. The company accepted by its pleas that it had laundered the proceeds of corruption over a two year period. The corruption took place in Kenya. Windward’s beneficial owner is Samuel Gichuru, the former Chief Executive of then Kenya Power and Lighting Company [KPLC]. KPLC awarded valuable contracts in Kenya to a large number of engineering and construction companies that made payments to Windward. The case is historic. It is the first time there has been a prosecution in respect of the corruption that took place during the era of President Moi. The Attorney General of Jersey is now placed to repatriate the confiscated assets to Kenya, the victim of the offending.
In 2011, Jersey requested the extradition from Kenya of Samuel Gichuru and Chris Okemo, the former Energy Minister to face charges in Jersey on money laundering charges related to the activities of Windward. The extradition proceedings are still ongoing in Kenya’s courts.
Howard Sharp QC represented the Attorney General in the Jersey criminal proceedings. He was first instructed to act in this case in 2007 and has overseen the investigation, the freezing order in Jersey, the extradition proceedings in Kenya (including travelling to the country to attend court and assist the Kenyan DPP) and now the successful prosecution of Windward Trading Limited in Jersey.
Article written by Advocate Caroline Dutot. For more information, contact her on 01534 481809 or by email on cdutot@ardentchambers.com
