Ex-convict who accused Dominica PM of corruption sued for spreading ‘fake news’

WIC News can reveal that money launderer-turned-consultant Kenneth Rijock is being sued for publishing “fake news”, casting doubts on his accusations against the prime minister of Dominica.

Canadian advisory firm Northland Wealth Management and two of its executives have brought the case, alleging “a malicious and relentless campaign of fake news”.

The complaint has been filed in Florida, where Rijock is a resident.

The company was the subject of an investigation on Rijock’s Financial Crime Blog, which they allege consisted “of more than 40 separate false and defamatory blog postings – waged by a convicted money launderer and disbarred ex-attorney.”

Northland are seeking at least US$15,000,000 in damages, among other actions.

In court documents, Northland suggest that they were targeted because they “had the audacity to ask questions about whether a company – whose so-called compliance program was run by Rijock – was an appropriate investment for an elderly client” and that 48 hours later Rijock began his “campaign”.

The Financial Crime Blog was where Rijock directed accusations at Roosevelt Skerrit, the prime minister of Dominica, in January 2017.

In his post he stated: “Reliable sources have confirmed that the prime minister of the Commonwealth of Dominica, Roosevelt Skerrit, is currently under investigation, being conducted by an agency of the United States.”

This investigation is said to relate to the prime minister’s actions in the sale of a diplomatic passport to Alireza Zabahalat Monfared, a known Iranian sanctions violator.

Roosevelt’s party denied the allegations at the time, with a Dominica Labour Party (DLP) spokesman blaming the United Workers Party (UWP) opposition for the rumour in an attempt to “seize political control of this country.”

In a February interview with DBS radio, DLP politician Reginald Austrie questioned the timing of Rijork’s blog post, and said the UWP was engaged in "negative and dishonest” practices against the nation.

This week Rijork’s controversial blog turned the focus to the Morocco’s ambassador to Dominica.

In a post titled “How many thousand blank passports from Dominica has been sold in Syria?”, he accused Mohamed Benjilany meeting Skerrit and acquired thousands of “blank, official Dominica passports.”

The Ministry of Justice, Immigration and National Security dismissed these claims as “malicious, entirely false and an unjustified slur.”

Ken Rijock is a former banking attorney at an international law firm. He spent the 1980s as a money launderer and advisor to drug traffickers, until he was arrested and imprisoned. He is now a financial crime consultant.

WIC News has reached out to Kenneth Rijock and Roosevelt Skerrit for comment.