The Standard, Kenya
June 9 2006

Kenya: Police Arrest Armenian Brothers

The East African Standard (Nairobi)
June 9, 2006

Standard Reporter
Nairobi

Police have arrested seven people including the two Armenian
brothers, Artur Margaryan and Artur Sargasyan, after they were caught
up in a near-shootout with airport security officcers last night.

Police also recovered hoods and motor vehicle number plates from the
Armenians’ Runda house in Nairobi. They also found 11 top of the
range cars, one bearing government number plates, parked at the
residence.

The raid was carried out by about 40 police officers, who forced
their way into the compound by breaking down the gate after the
brothers refused to let them in. Also arrested was a third alleged
brother of the Armenians, and four employees said to be bodyguards.

According to police sources, the raid was ordered by Police
Commissioner Major-General Hussein Ali after the Arturs assaulted a
customs official at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport last
night. Sargasyan was said to have arrived in the country from Dubai
accompanied by a woman. They refused to have their luggage inspected
by customs officials and a confrontation ensued.

Sargasyan is said to have drawn his gun and assaulted a customs
official. They then walked away with his brother, Margaryan, who had
gone to pick him up with about five bodyguards. The suspects are
being held at Muthangari and Kileleshwa police stations.

Raid on Standard Group

The Armenian brothers have been at the centre of mercenary claims
since March, when Langata MP Raila Odinga circulated copies of their
passports, claiming they took part in the raid on the Standard Group.

A week later, the two brothers held a press conference at the Jomo
Kenyatta Kenyatta International Airport VIP lounge and denied the
mercenary claim, saying they were businessmen seeking to invest in
Kenya. They claimed that they had loaned Raila about Sh100 million.

They also claimed that Raila and Mwingi North MP, Mr Kalonzo Musyoka,
had asked them for Sh3 billion last year to finance a no-confidence
motion against President Kibaki.

The two claimed that the President of Armenia was their uncle and
that they had vast business interests in various Asian and African
states, including Kenya.

They claimed that they had copies of CCTV footage on all the meetings
they held with Raila and Kalonzo Musyoka at the Serena and Grand
Regency hotels.

On March 14, attempts by police officers to arrest and search the
Armenians’ Runda Estate house failed after Margaryan refused to let
them in.