Kenyan police said under pressure “from above” to release Armenians

Capital FM radio, Nairobi
9 Jun 06

A high powered security meeting is currently under way at police
headquarters over the late night raid at the Runda residence [Nairobi]
of the Artur brothers. Sources say the raid has sent panic among
senior police officers due to what they are terming as interference
from above.

No senior police officer involved in the operation is willing to
comment on the matter, referring all questions to the police
commissioner himself.

The meeting at Vigilance House [police HQ] chaired by Maj-Gen Hussein
Ali is reportedly charting the way forward over the matter.

Seven people among them Artur Margaryan, his brother Sargasyan,
another man said to be their brother, a Caucasian lady and three
Kenyans are recording statements with the police at Gigiri, Muthangari
and Hardy police stations. The raid followed an earlier scuffle at the
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport [Nairobi], where the brothers are
alleged to have drawn a gun at customs officials. Police say Margaryan
had gone to the airport to receive his brother and pulled out a
firearm when asked to follow customs regulations. When authorities
raided the residence of the Armenians in Runda, they detained 11
vehicles including one bearing Government of Kenya [GK] number
plates. They also recovered numerous other registration plates with
more GK, UN and ordinary plates.

Back at the Armenian’s Runda residence, trucks that had been brought
in to tow the vehicles have now left the compound. No official at the
scene is offering the explanation to the journalists present and it
remains unclear whether the eleven top of the range vehicles will be
towed to police yards. Officers are still conducting a search at the
expansive residence, where they’re also going through data in
computers found at the residence.

A senior source says police are under pressure to release the Armenian
brothers.

Meanwhile, opposition leader Uhuru Kenyatta, has demanded thorough
investigations into the matter. Uhuru wants prosecution against the
Armenians should investigations reveal that the brothers actually
roughed up government officials at the airport.

He also says a thorough probe should be conducted into the number
plates which were allegedly recovered at the Runda residence.