TYCOON SAVES ARMENIANS’ GOODS FROM AUCTION
Story By Patrick Nzioka
Daily Nation, Kenya
Oct 23 2006
A single telephone call was all it took to save household goods
belonging to the Armenian brothers from the auctioneer’s hammer.
A local tycoon paid Sh450,000 and an additional Sh100,000 as costs
in a matter of minutes to save the goods that were to be auctioned
off to pay rent for the house they lived in at Runda estate.
The two brothers were deported in June after they allegedly caused
a security breach at the city’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
Prospective buyers who had gathered at the Pangani Auction Centre yard
on Saturday went home disappointed because they could not lay their
hands on the posh sofa sets, beds, fridges, mattresses, carpets,
tables, crates with bottles and ceramic tiles, advertised for sale
to recover rent arrears.
The owner of the house, Mr Sammy Musyoki, had sued Brotherlink
International Ltd, a company associated with the two men who claim to
be brothers – Artur Margaryan and Artur Sargsyan – to recover the rent.
Mr Joab Apopo, a lawyer for Businessman Raju Sanghani arrived at the
yard just before the auction started.
He called Mr Sanghani on his mobile phone to brief him on the
situation.
Mr Apopo was instructed to negotiate with the lawyer representing
the landlord to stop the auction on condition that he would be given
the money.
If that failed, he was told to bid for the entire lot at Sh450,000.
The money would be paid once the bid was accepted.
The auction had been delayed after another lawyer representing Ms
Shirfana Alarakiya who lived in the Runda home with the brothers,
negotiated with Mr Musyoki’s lawyer, Mr Richard Mutiso, on how to
pay the money.
Mr Mutiso rejected her offer of a Sh200,000 down payment, but left
with Mr Apopo for Westlands after agreeing to negotiate.
Mr Sanghani appeared before the Kiruki Commission that investigated
the activities of the two men. He said he had invited them to Kenya
believing they were investors.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
