London: Hemant Lakhani, the 68-year-old British national of Indian origin arrested last week for allegedly smuggling an anti-aircraft missile into the United States, has been under investigation by the Kenya government for arms-for-diamonds deals and for supplying weapons to al-Qaida cells, a media report said on August 17.

According to a probe by 'The Sunday Times', Lakhani was previously linked with a notorious arms dealer who has been described as "odious" by the British government for supplying weapons to rebel forces in Sierra Leone.

"It has also emerged that Lakhani himself has been under investigation by the Kenyan government for arms-for-diamonds deals and for supplying weapons to al-Qaida cells," the paper reported.

Lakhani, who was born in Gujarat, moved to London in the 1950s. He worked hard setting up business in the rag trade, but had expensive tastes and would always spend too much money on fine food, holidays and clothes.

His wife Kusum, 66, was a well-known figure in the community, respected for her work for Asian charities. She worked as president of the Sangam Association of Asian Women, a charity set up to offer immigration and welfare advice in North London.

When Princess Diana opened a new centre for the group in 1991, both Lakhani and his wife were introduced to her. It was a social highlight for them both but the next year Lakhani was declared bankrupt.

As his ventures teetered towards insolvency, Lakhani is understood to have made frequent trips to Kenya where he is said to have become a business associate of Sanjivan Ruprah, a notorious arms dealer, the report said.

PTI