U.S. sanctions individuals for alleged involvement in corruption in South Africa

U.S. Department of the Treasury on Thursday sanctioned four individuals for their alleged involvement in corruption in South Africa.

The Treasury said in a statement that the designated individuals, namely Ajay Gupta, Atul Gupta, Rajesh Gupta, and Salim Essa, are members of a significant corruption network in South Africa.

"The Gupta family leveraged its political connections to engage in widespread corruption and bribery, capture government contracts, and misappropriate state assets," Treasury Undersecretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Sigal Mandelker was quoted as saying in the statement.

"The Guptas and Essa have used their influence with prominent politicians and parties to line their pockets with ill-gotten gains," she added.

As a result of the sanctions, all property and interests in property of those individuals that are subject to U.S. jurisdiction will be blocked, and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with them, the statement said.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)