DEPORTED BROTHERS ENJOYED CLOSE TIES WITH PATTNI AND OTHERS IN THE LIMELIGHT
By Tony Kago And Patrick Mayoyo
The Nation, Kenya
June 19 2006
Mr Kamlesh Pattni of the Goldenberg scandal. The sons of slain drug
baron Ibrahim Akasha. Narc activist Mary Wambui and her daughter
Winnie. Real estate tycoon Raju Sanghani. And Mombasa brothers Hassan
and Abu Joho. These are the some of names that crop up as some of the
associates of the deported Artur brothers. While the Wambui and Winnie
link has been exhaustively analysed, not much has been mentioned on
some of the even more controversial characters who mingled with Artur
Margaryan and Artur Sargsyan.
Mr Kamlesh Pattni
His name is synonymous with the most sensational scandal to ever hit
Kenya – Goldenberg.
His fortunes seemed to have changed dramatically when Kanu was
voted out of power in 2002, and the Narc Government set up a Judicial
Commission of Inquiry to investigate Goldenberg and associated scandals
afresh. Mr Pattni was eager to reveal all and heap the blame on former
President Moi.
He has also tried to cultivate links with leading figures in Kibaki’s
government and the President’s informal circle of advisers and
power-brokers.
His links to the Armenian brothers have been an open secret. He was a
frequent visitor to their Runda residence and had hosted them severally
at the Grand Regency Hotel.
However, the managers of a casino recently established at the Grand
Regency have denied reports that the Artur brothers were its owners.
Mr Pattni was described by the Justice Samuel Bosire’s commission of
inquiry as the chief architect of the Goldenberg scandal where Kenya
lost Sh20 billion under the guise of a gold and diamonds trade. The
scheme involved fictitious exports that were used to claim the billions
in export compensation.
According to the findings of the Bosire commission, Mr Pattni escaped
arrest for many years because he was shielded by influential people
in the Kanu government.
Mr Pattni and five other former government officials were charged
with plotting to steal Sh5.8 billion from the Treasury.
He denied the four counts of conspiring to steal the money in 1993
jointly with the then spy chief James Kanyotu, Treasury permanent
secretary Wilfred Koinange, Central Bank governor Eric Kotut and his
deputy Eliphaz Riungu. The case is still in court.
Mr Raju Sanghani
When the Artur brothers saga started in March amid claims that they
were mercenaries, real estate agent Rajendra Rajilal Sanghani –
who was known for his connections during the Moi era – was among
those interviewed by police.
His firm, Real Management Services, was the agent for the Runda house
let by Mr Sammy Mutinda Musyoki.
Mr Sanghani admitted that he facilitated the business activities of
the brothers and had introduced them to top business and security
officials and politicians, including Mwingi North MP Kalonzo Musyoka.
In March, Mr Musyoka said that he would sever the links until the row
over the Armenians is resolved. Mr Sanghani showed journalists a copy
of the design of the proposed 5,000 low cost houses project which
the brothers were alleged to have been keen to develop in Athi River.
The brothers were also keen to buy some houses Mr Sanghani had built
in Karen, but the deal failed when they failed to agree on the price.
Mr Sanghani was in the news recently contesting the seizure five
years ago of a Mercedes Benz 500 SEL by the Kenya Revenue Authority.
He said he had bought the Sh8 million car from retired President
Moi’s son, Philip Moi, only for the taxman to seize the vehicle for
non-payment of duty.
His lawyer asked appellate judges R.S.C. Omolo, Philip Waki and
William Deverell to give the car back to his client.
He wondered why KRA was denying his client the car when it could
demand duty and storage charges from Mr Philip Moi. The court heard
that although Mr Sanghani bought the car from Mr Moi in 1994, Mr Moi
did not hand over the logbook but promised to do so later.
The Akashas
Mr Baktash Akasha is another Artur associate who was questioned during
the first police investigation into the saga of the brothers.
Mr Margaryan had said that one of the Akasha daughters was married
to one of his business managers.
When the Nation reported that a blue Mercedes Benz used by Mr Margaryan
was registered in Baktash’s name, Baktash said he wanted to sell it
and that it was Mr Sanghani who gave it to Mr Margaryan.
The Benz was one of the 15 cars police found parked at the Arturs’
compound during a recent raid.
Mr Baktash was also a frequent visitor to the Runda home and has
been present at some of the parties the brothers used to throw for
pressmen and entertainment celebrities.
The head of the Akasha family – Mr Ibrahim Abdalla Akasha –
was shot dead in a gangland-style execution in Amsterdam’s Bloedstrat
(Blood Street) in May 2000 as he hurried for an appointment with an
underground drugs agent.
He died in the hands of his second wife, Mrs Gazi Hayat, as two
other people who had accompanied the couple, Ms Zainabu Hassan and
Mr Mohammed Ali Musa watched.
Reports indicated that he met his death after a long-standing feud
over non-payment of a Sh200 million heroine consignment he delivered
to the Netherlands in 1999.
Mr Akasha, who had vast business interests at the Coast and in Nairobi,
was an international drug trafficker, but escaped prosecution because
of his strong links with influential people in the Kanu government.
The family was hit by another tragedy when on March 28, 2003, a lone
gunman shot Mr Kamaldin seven times in the head in a Mombasa street
killing him instantly. Three people were arrested and charged with
murder. The case is still pending.
Abubakar and Hassan Joho
Among those whose names featured prominently as the Armenian brothers
business associates in Mombasa were the Joho brothers, Hassan and
Abubakar. The two are also said to be longtime business associates
of Narc activist Mary Wambui.
Abubakar is a director of Chelamed (K) Ltd, one of the companies
recently mentioned in connection with airport security passes dished
out freely to individuals and companies associated with the Artur
brothers.
Mr Hassan Joho is also a politician, and attracted Ms Wambui’s support
during the Kisauni by-election in 2004.
Narc nomination
With support from the Liberal Democratic Party, he won the Narc
nomination but was rejected by other Mombasa politicians who instead
teamed up to support Mr Ananiah Mwaboza who vied on a Labour Party
ticket.
Ms Wambui has in the past attended public functions involving Hassan
Joho and one such occasion is when she presided over a fundraiser
in Kisauni constituency on Mr Joho’s invitation. Immediately
after the deportation of the Artur brothers, detectives from the
Coast provincial CID headquarters are said to have raided a house in
Tudor estate, Mombasa. The owner of the house is said to be a close
business associated of the Artur brothers and was also involved in
motor vehicle importation.
In Mombasa, the Artur brothers are also said to have had close
links with a number of leading commodity dealers, particularly sugar
importers.