Ex-Amaya CEO Baazov accused of stealing from Kenya charity

Life just gets better for David Baazov, the former CEO of Amaya Gaming, who is being sued for embezzlement by a Kenyan charity.

On Wednesday, Business Daily Africa reported that the Lion’s Heart Self Help Group had filed suit against Baazov and his fellow former Amaya execs Daniel Sebag and Benjamin Ahdoot, as well as Amaya’s Kenyan subsidiary, for allegedly embezzling Sh73m (US $707k) that was earmarked for the Lion’s Heart charity.

The suit alleges that Amaya Gaming Group (K) Ltd, which began lottery operations in the country in 2010, failed to remit the promised 25% of its earnings from the Kwachu Mamilli lottery to Lion’s Heart. The suit also targets local financial institution NIC Bank for allegedly colluding with Baazov et al to open accounts through which the embezzled funds flowed.

Lion’s Heart has been joined in the suit by Amaya Gaming Group (K) director Kennedy Odhiambo Nyagudi, who claims that only he and Baazov were authorized to open local bank accounts on behalf of the company. Nyagudi claims NIC Bank was aware of this limitation, yet still opened accounts on behalf of the other Amaya execs, who then funneled the aforementioned millions out of the country.