Ill-gotten gains is defined as money that was obtained in an
unfair or dishonest way. In a recent sitting of the Truth, Reconciliation and
National Unity Commission (TRNUC) on the 14th of January 2020 former
Barclays Bank manager, Pat Barallon, argued that any compensation should not be
paid by the present generation of Seychellois tax payers but should come from
the perpetrators estate. He further stated that if the commission employed
forensic accountants enough funds could be retrieved to pay the victims from
these certain hidden investments. In many countries including our neighbor,
Mauritius, a section called possession of unexplained wealth is part of their anti-
corruption legislation. In Seychelles,
this part is yet to make it into the anti-corruption act. The Mauritian
legislation describes part of unexplained wealth as a person who “owns, or is
in control of, property to an extent which is disproportionate to his
emoluments or other income”
Sarah Zarqani Rene started a secret affair in 1982 with
Albert Rene and at the time was working in the department of Curriculum
development. From 1990 when she fell pregnant for Albert Rene to this day,
Sarah Zarqani Rene has not been employed. The two lived in sin until Albert
Rene divorced his first wife in 1993. After getting pregnant Sarah Zarqani Rene
went to live abroad in Malaysia and then Fiji until the divorce. Shortly after
the divorce, she returned to Seychelles and married Albert Rene on La Digue in
the same year. Kevin Shillington references this in the biography of Albert
Rene.
Algagresu Pty Ltd was registered in Australia in 2001 whilst
Albert Rene was still President and for obvious reasons his name could not
appear on the company documents. The name of his wife would be the front for
amassing overseas wealth. The assets held and businesses conducted included a
business known as Emerald Lodge in Mareeba on a property, which was purchased
in 2001. This property was sold under the name of Algagresu Properties Pty Ltd in
February 2018 for $2 million. As of April 2018, the two shareholders of
Algagresu Pty Ltd are Sarah Zarqani and Kim Sun Kan when these reports were
obtained.
Emerald Farm Mareeba Pty Ltd previously known as Emerald
Mangoes Mareeba Pty Ltd was registered in 2003 and the shareholder of the
company was Algagresu Pty Ltd. It originally comprised of a mango plantation but
later on turned to farming bananas; specifically “Lady Finger Bananas”.
Another company called Emerald Springs Mareeba Pty Ltd was
created in 2003. The business operated on the same property in Mareeba and had
a spring on it, which enabled the company to bottle the water. The owner of the
business was also Algagresu Pty Ltd.
With almost the same name, another company was created the
year after Albert Rene had retired as President named Algagresu Properties Pty
Ltd. This company was tasked with conducting businesses of land subdivision and
develpment of properties. As of 2018 the shareholders of this company are
former Seychelles Ambassador to Australia Gaetan Barallon, Sun Kim Kan and
Sarah Zarqani Rene.
It is not clear how funds for a person to obtain these
properties and businesses came from that has had no employment since 1990. What
is clear is that Mrs Rene loves the word Emerald. In Seychelles Mrs Rene and
her three children own directly or indirectly through companies, many properties
that was obtained from state land. Emerald Villa on La Digue, Emerald Holdings
and Capricorn Estate are some of the names of companies that the public are
familiar with.
Mr Barallon also alleged that $1 million per month was being
channeled through some of these company accounts and claimed that if the TRNUC
would request tax returns for these companies from Australian authorities’
evidence would be forthcoming. Whilst Albert Rene was busy violating the rights
of Seychellois citizens, Mrs Rene was busy amassing a fortune. The public are
now waiting to see whether TRNUC will seek the expertise of at least a forensic
accountant.