Govt Promises Tycoon Special Treatment Upon Extradition From UK

Kenyan oil tycoon Yagnesh Devani who lives in UK.
Kenyan oil tycoon Yagnesh Devani who lives in UK.
Twitter

The government has promised Kenyan billionaire Yagnesh Devani, the businessman behind the Ksh7.6 billion Triton petroleum scandal, preferential treatment at Kamiti prison if he's extradited from the United Kingdom.

The controversial businessman has been out of the country for more than a decade after his company Triton was embroiled in the Ksh7.6 billion nationwide oil scandal in 2008.

This led to a long court process in which the government has made attempts to bring back the suspect in order to be tried on Kenyan soil.

An empty court room.
An empty court room.
File

Devani has challenged his deportation on multiple occasions leading to delays in his extradition to the country.

So much so, that the State now offers preferential treatment for the suspect if the UK facilitates his return.

Reports indicate that the suspect would have his own cell and washroom in order to match international standards.

Devani, in his appeals, has cited harsh conditions in the Kenyan prison systems which would go against Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights which prohibits torture or degrading treatment.

Devani, known to be well connected to political bigwigs during former President Daniel Moi's regime, has managed to evade justice for 10 years after his company Triton was found with 96,000 tonnes of petroleum without approval from authorities. 

The businessman reportedly left the country in 2008 for India to attend a religious event.  

Three years later, UK authorities announced they had apprehended the suspect in London. This led to the Kenyan government filing extradition requests on two occasions for the suspect to be extradited to the country.

If the extradition occurs, Devani would face up to 19 counts of financial crimes.

File image of a court gavel
File photo of a court gavel on a judge's table.
Photo
Sheria
  • . .