21-year old collage student with millions of cash has suffered a huge blow after the court ordered the freezing of her bank account.
Justice Esther Maina ordered the account to be frozen for 90 days in order to allow the Asset Recovery Agency (ARA) to establish the source of the Ksh102,654,024 in Felesta Nyamathira’s Co-operative bank account.
“An order is hereby issued prohibiting the respondent, her employees, agents, servants or any other persons acting on their behalf from transacting, withdrawing, transferring, and, or dealing in any manner in respect of any profits or benefits derived or accrued from the funds,” Judge Esther ruled.
ARA moved to court seeking the account to be frozen until investigations to determine the source of the cash are concluded.
The agency believes that the funds were transferred unlawfully and for unknown reasons.
According to ARA, the respondent might have been involved with money laundering
“Unless this honourable court grants the orders sought, the respondent will continue to enjoy the benefits derived from proceeds of crime,” part o court documents by ARA read.
The money was allegedly deposited in the account by Felesta’s boyfriend, Marc De Messel, who is a bitcoin billionaire from Belgium.
De Messel is said to have started trading in the virtual currency in 2008.
He has recorded a statement indicating that he sent the money to Felesta noting that he followed all the procedures required including filling paper work with the bank.
“As investors with every exchange and every bank, you need to do this constantly and there is a trace on where the money is coming from. It’s from my investments and my brokerage,” Messel stated.
“I knew there were more unlawful activities in Africa than Europe but without any notice, summon or question by police, suddenly being apprehended in my home, seizing my laptop, phone and passport, taken away handcuffed, as well as my pregnant girlfriend, I did not expect,” he added.
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