The Standard, Kenya
July 1 2006
Raju: How I brought the `Arturs’ to Kenya
By Patrick Mathangani and Biketi Kikechi
A friend of businessman Kamlesh Pattni who invited the so-called
Artur brothers to Kenya and ensured they lived like kings yesterday
narrated to the Kiruki Commission the story of their grand arrival
and stay.
Mr Raju Rajendra Sanghani narrated how he met the bogus brothers,
invited them to Kenya, booked them in a five-star hotel – linked to
Pattni – and later secured them a posh home.
He also generously spoke about how he hooked them onto the right
connections, including memorable sessions with former Foreign
minister Kalonzo Musyoka, who they wanted to use as the gateway for
their "businesses” in the region.
The emergence of Sanghani’s face in the latest saga, added to the
fact that Pattni was pictured dining and wining with the
gold-bedecked impostors at their Runda home, gave a fresh spin to the
latest nightmare for President Kibaki’s Government. (Pattni later
said that he had gone to see the alleged brothers in order to solicit
funds for his children’s home.)
In political circles, the dramatic entry of the bogus brothers into
Kenya, the curious manner in which they were deported despite arrest
with illegal guns and fake passports, and the general manner
high-ranking public officials kid-gloved them, is being seen as
having inflicted on the Kibaki administration more political wounds
than Anglo Leasing scandals.
The man fondly referred to as Raju in business circles, and who has
spent time in the Kenyan jail for assaul , said he first met the
impostors in Dubai. At the first introduction, the burly bearded
"younger brother” went by the name James while the clean-shaven
elder "brother” was Arthur.
Sanghani – who was in 2002 jailed with his brother for ordering
guards to beat up men sent by a solicitor to list the goods they
owned – downed several glasses of water as he fielded questions on
the foreigners for whom he rolled the red carpet, ostensibly on
behalf of a mutual rich friend he met in India.
Raju said he was mesmerised by the "brothers” when they poured
half-a-million US dollars (Sh37 million) in cash onto the table in
Dubai for him to carry to Kenya.
For the second time, the name of little-known Mohamed Zakir Oomer
featured, this time not just as a co-director with the Artur’s in
Brotherlink International Ltd Company, but as the big-time player at
whose behest Sanghani rolled the red carpet for the bogus brothers.
Raju, a man with a silvery hair patch at the front of his head, said
he hoped to make a windfall in business with the so-called Armenians.
Raju’s side of the story was that he accidentally met Oomer, an old
pal, in Mumbai in May 2005 and they agreed to discuss investment in
Kenya.
Although the deal wasn’t sealed they agreed to try property
development in Kenya and Oomer called five months later to say he was
travelling to Kenya with some investors.
They were allegedly looking for an investment worth about $5 million
(Sh365 million) and wanted Raju’s assistance during their stay in
Kenya.
Oomer arrived at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport with two other
people who were introduced him as Arthur and James. "These people who
are commonly referred to as "Artur Brothers" were also introduced as
members of the Armenian royal family,” said Raju.
He booked them at Grand Regency and it was during the period, that he
also introduced them to Kalonzo at Serena Hotel after they
accidentally met in the corridor.
Sanghani said they requested to meet Kalonzo again because as a
former Minister, he would help them establish business connections in
neighbouring states.
The main session was held at the Grand Regency where the Mwingi MP
met with a different group later in the evening.
The three impostors left the country on November 15, 2005 most
probably impressed with the hospitality of the local people and how
easily they could get connected to people in high places.
Sanghani travelled to Dubai where he met the brothers two weeks later
. They attempted to give him the thousands of dollars to purchase
property for them in Kenya.
He declined because it was not the "proper manner" of transacting
business and transferring money. A few days later, Oomer and the
brothers arrived in Nairobi, and informed Sanghani that they had
received other offers from people he didn’t know.
A month later they requested for a house that was leased to them in
Runda through Sanghani’s real estate agency. They also allegedly
requested for cars from Sanghani and he offered them three Toyota
Harriers from the six he had purchased for sale in Uganda.
Sanghani claimed that he was assured that the cars would be used in
Uganda and they agreed to follow the right procedures by paying the
relevant duties. He gave them three luxurious cars, all Toyota
Harriers, with a verbal sale agreement that was never honoured.
He is now pleading that the vehicles, now in the hands of the police,
be returned to him because they were worthy Sh7.5 million and the
Armenians handed him a measly Sh1.8 million without documentation.
Sanghani who guzzled several glasses of water, and appeared to be
navigating strange waters, was shocked when he was told he should
take responsibility of the "Armenians brothers" presence in Kenya.
"Although you say you didn’t bring them, I believe you did and you
should take that responsibility," said assisting counsel Ms Dorcas
Oduor.
She told Sanghani that he invited them to the country, sent his
people to the airport and booked them at Grand Regency Hotel.
Sanghani told the Commission that he later took the bogus brothers
around Nairobi up-market estates in search of a house.
He said whatever happened to the two masqueraders before and during
their deportation was unfortunate. "Because you invited them and now
that they have been deported, what can you say to this Commission?"
asked Oduor. "It is just unfortunate. I don’t know what to say,"
replied Sanghani.
>From Sanghani’s testimony it turned out that the Armenians were
masters in undercover money-deals. All their payments were always in
six-figure digits and were made in cash despite the risk involved.
"Why did you let them handle transactions in cash when there is too
much risk in the world of business?" Asked Oduor. Sanghani’s response
was as those to earlier questions.
He said: "I believed them in good faith and remember they had put $
500,000 on the table in Dubai."
Following is the verbatim exchange between Oduor and Sanghani on his
role in their coming to Kenya:
Dorcas: Although you are saying that you did not bring these people
into this country, I believe you did bring them from what you have
explained. If our documentation shows that the November 10 is when
they first came into this country, then they were coming to do
business with you and you were their host.
Sanghani: Can I just say something. Zakir had been visiting this
country many times before 10th November. He is the one who said he
must organise them to come and do business here and if you read my
statement, I have said he told me if I can assist him, meaning Zakir
knew many other people besides me. They were not full time with me…
Dorcas: But on this particular day at least we can safely say that
you communicated that they were coming . You went for them at the
airport; you arranged for them to be booked at the Grand Regency
Hotel…
Sanghani: Ok, I can say that, but…yeah, ok…I mean it depends on how
you look at it.
He revealed they have been communicating since they were deported and
that they have called either twice or thrice. "They are normal calls
because they were trying to get a copy of the lease agreement."
Evidence provided by Immigration officers showed that Oomer first
came to Kenya last November contrary to Sanghani’s evidence that they
first came eight years ago.
Sanghani said he introduced them to many significant people
especially in the business world.
He admitted that he visited their home in Runda several times and
that at one point two other people stayed in that house.