Off the wire
• Roundup: Uber faces rough time in Kenya after brief success  • Roundup: Assisted "death with dignity" divides Dutch political parties  • CBA Roundup: Xinjiang, Liaoning reach semifinals, Shenzhen ties Shanghai 2-2  • Chinese investors commit highest amount of FDI at Investment summit in Nepal  • Nepal-China connecting Arniko Highway resumes smooth operation after maintenance  • Washington urges Sudanese rebel movement to allow humanitarian access  • China Headlines: "Conformity" a keyword as China raises curtain for political high season  • Urgent: Man arrested in Missouri for involving threats targeting U.S. Jewish community centers  • Laos sets new target for clearing unexploded ordnance for 2017  • South Sudanese army arrest three soldiers for mass rape  
You are here: 　 Home

Kenyan leader signs tough law to curb money laundering, graft

Xinhua, March 4, 2017 Adjust font size:

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta on Friday signed into law the Proceeds of Crime and Anti-Money Laundering (Amendment) Bill 2017, a tough legislation aimed at combating economic crimes.

A statement from Kenyatta's office said the amended legislation introduces fresh measures on punishment for economic crimes.

"This is a major tool in our sustained efforts to fight corruption. It means that no proceeds of theft and corruption are beyond the reach of the State," Kenyatta said after signing the bill.

In addition to the identification, tracing, freezing, seizure and confiscation of the proceeds of crime, the new law imposes stiff penalty on culprits.

It recommends that a person who fails to comply with it will be liable to a monetary penalty not exceeding 50,000 U.S. dollars while the penalty for a corporate body will not exceed 250,000 dollars.

The amended law adds that in the case of continued failure, the person or reporting institution shall be liable to an additional monetary penalty of 100,000 dollars per day on which such failure continues for a maximum period of 180 days.

The new legislation also formalises the establishment of the Assets Recovery Agency, which will handle all cases of recovery of the proceeds of crime or benefits accruing from money laundering. Endit