Liberia: Royal Gold Wins Legal Battle Against Weah’s FIU

The Civil Law Court has ordered the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), the Ministry of Justice, and GT Bank, to unfreeze the assets of Royal Gold Trading and Royal Gold Liquor Store. 

Royal Gold Trading specializes in precious metals and commodities trading, serving clients globally, while Royal Gold Liquor Store is a premier retailer of fine wines, spirits, and luxury liquor.

Their assets were ordered frozen in May 2022 when its CEO, Sheikh Bassirou Kante, was arrested in the United States of America.

The FIU and the MOJ, reportedly acting on instructions from the Executive Mansion under the Weah Administration, forcibly froze the assets of the two companies that are owned by Kante. 

The assets freeze order was issued during the administration of President George M. Weah. The government at the time contended that Royal Gold International and Royal Gold Liquor Store veered off from what they were officially registered for. 

The case, which dragged on into the administration of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, came to a halt on Tuesday, April 2 when the judge of the Civil Law Court, Her Honor Golda A. Bonah Elliott, adjudged the actions of the Financial Intelligence Unit and the Ministry of Justice as unlawful. 

Lawyers representing the government interposed no objection to Judge Elliott’s ruling. 

Judge Elliott further ordered GT Bank and other banks to lift the freeze on the account of the companies and Kante. 

The ruling of Judge Elliott is a major victory for the conglomerate, which has fought tooth and nail against the unlawful order that has rendered it stagnant for a protracted period. The companies’ accounts with GT Banks were frozen, which reportedly caused financial strain for its employees; properties owned by Kante were also seized, which caused significant losses. 

Responding to the ruling by Judge Elliot, Kante expressed his gratitude to the government of President Joseph Boakai for the exoneration of his companies. 

“Today’s court ruling is a vindication of our unwavering commitment to ethical business practices,” Kante said in a statement issued. “We are grateful for the tireless efforts by the Ministry of Justice in ensuring justice prevails. Our business will now thrive once again and we look forward to contributing positively to Liberia’s economy.