By Spokesman Newsroom
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts (Wednesday 9th November 2022)- “The Attorney-General’s Office is actively taking steps to arrange for the swift transmission of the MLAT Request to ensure that the local RSCPF investigation can be concluded and, if necessary, in the views of the RSCPF and Director of Public Prosecutions, persons involved in this alleged “sham” citizenship by marriage scheme can be charged and brought to justice in St Kitts & Nevis.” So said the new Attorney General Garth Wilkin, whose disclosure came as part of a press release-dated 8th November 2022from his office, under the newly-elected St.
Kitts-Nevis Labour Party government led by Prime Minister and Minister of National Security Dr. Terrance Drew. His comments come in light of the recent sentencing of Ramon “Hushpuppi” Abbas, a 40-year-old Nigerian social media influencer, who has been convicted to eleven (11 years) imprisonment in the United States relating to charges in a multimillion-dollar scam.
He was arrested in June 2020. Some of the money pocketed by Abbas was used to illegally get St. Kitts-Nevis citizenship and a passport through marriage as part of his activities. Wilkin said his office will “swiftly advise the Prime Minister and Minister of National Security as to his options with respect to Hushpuppi’s citizenship.” He informed that his office had become aware that the day before that Abbas was sentenced to be imprisoned for 135 months in a federal prison in the United States for his role in an international fraud syndicate.” According to the Attorney General, as a part of the official press release from the Department of Justice in the U.S.Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California, the following was stated: “Approximately $50,000 of proceeds from the scheme [in which Hushpuppi duped the victim businessperson into paying approximately $330,000] were used to fraudulently acquire a St.
Christopher (St. Kitts) and Nevis citizenship and a passport for Abbas through a sham marriage to a St. Kitts citizen.” Wilkin went on to say that the Attorney-General’s Office therefore wishes to update the general public on the status of the local investigation into the said alleged “sham marriage” and resultant issuance of St.
Kitts & Nevis Citizenship to “Hushpuppi”. As highlighted by him: “In July 2021, law enforcement authorities in the United States contacted the Royal Saint Christopher and Nevis Police Force (“RSCNPF”) to provide information about Hushpuppi’s alleged criminal activities in St Kitts.
A formal investigation was launched by the RSCNPF.” He continued: “The RSCNPF, in September 2021, prepared a draft Request for Assistance from the United States in the investigation of Hushpuppi pursuant to the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (“MLAT Request”). This MLAT Request sought to obtain formal evidence from the United States to assist the local RSCNPF investigation, which has implicated persons residing in the United States and persons residing in St Kitts.
The then Director of Public Prosecutions swiftly provided his input and the MLAT Request was then forwarded to the Attorney-General’s Office, which is the competent state entity responsible for sending MLAT Requests to foreign states/countries.” Wilkin said the draft MLAT Request dated September 15, 2021 thereafter remained unapproved by the then Attorney-General. “On October 21, 2022, after an inquiry into the status of the investigation by the current Attorney-General, he was provided with a copy of the drafted MLAT Request and has been in direct communication with the RSCNPF to finalize it for forwarding to the United States,” he added.
He further quoted that the Commissioner of Police who stated publicly on February 11, 2022 that the RSCPF “sent some information…in terms of doing an MLAT [Mutual and Legal Agreement Treaty] to get evidence from the United States of America. We [the Police] cannot go to make a request.
Our legal person would have to ask the competent authority in the USA to ask them for the evidence. Whatever we can do here, we will do until we get the other evidence.” The Attorney General then expressed that the RSCPF has confirmed that the investigation is ongoing, but the delayed MLAT Request has decelerated its progress.
It was further pinpointed by him that on August 5, 2021 in the National Assembly, the former Prime Minister stated – LOCAL NEWS – 3 that “[t]he matter of the Join The revocation of Mr. Abbas’ St. Kitts-Nevis citizenship has been put before our Attorney General for advice Trades & Labour and guidance.” Union “However, the Attorney- – NOW – General’s Office has been unable to locate any such file,” Wilkin noted whilst highlighting that his office is actively taking steps in addressing such.
Front Page Image: Convicted US felon Ramon “Hushpuppi” Abbas, a 40-year-old Nigerian social media influencer seen in this Instagram social media image relaxing on a private jet while looking at a copy of the famous Forbes magazine which is globally known for listings about wealthy celebrities and companies around the world.
