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Nairobi: Revealed: Secrets of the Artur brothers

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  • Nairobi: Revealed: Secrets of the Artur brothers

    Standard, Kenya
    Feb 28 2009


    Revealed: Secrets of the Artur brothers


    By Isaac Ongiri and David Ochami

    A report by a Parliamentary Select Committee charged with
    investigating the activities of two alleged Armenian brothers, Artur
    Margayan and Artur Sagasyan, reveals damning details about Government
    involvement in the saga.

    The committee declares a Cabinet minister and several public officers
    unfit to hold public office for their role in the Artursâ??
    scandal.

    The report, whose debate is pending in Parliament, recommends
    investigation to ascertain what President Kibaki knew about the two.

    Also revealed was the undercover plan to raid The Standard Group
    offices and those behind the heinous plot to suppress the Press.

    In the raid, several computers were stolen, KTN broadcast equipment
    vandalised and the dayâ??s issue of The Standard set on fire.

    It is now three years since the commando-like raid on the Standard
    Group.

    Drug Traffickers

    Interestingly, the report says Government deportation of the two in
    June 9, 2006, involved a return ticket to Dubai.

    It also describes the two as conmen and international drug
    traffickers. Allegedly invited by the Government as foreign investors,
    the committeeâ??s findings indicate they were pampered and
    booked to travel business class, which is reserved for VIPs.

    The report says the then Immigration Minister Gideon Konchella and his
    Permanent Secretary were kept in the dark by then Principal
    Immigration Officer Joseph Ndathi about the Arturs.

    The report also says initial orders by National Security Intelligence
    Service (NSIS) to deport the two after their suspicious behaviour were
    ignored.

    At the Grand Regency Hotel (now Laico Hotel) where the Arturs were
    booked when they first arrived in the country, the report says NSIS
    agents found out the two attempted to install CCTV cameras at the
    hotel.

    Despite their flossy behaviour, the committee found out, the alleged
    foreign investors only declared Sh8,133,098.40 as the amount they
    intended to invest in the country.

    Prepared by the Justice and National Security Parliamentary Committee
    more than a year ago, the report concludes the Armenian brothers
    enjoyed protection from presidential aides.

    It also says their presence in the country was initiated and protected
    at the highest levels of Government. Their stay was part of a
    conspiracy to commit atrocities, says the report.

    The parliamentary committee concludes high-ranking Government
    officials in State House knew of the brothersâ?? intentions
    as demonstrated by their direct links with the officials.

    The report recommends investigations on former Strategy Advisor to the
    President Stanley Murage, former Internal Security Minister John
    Michuki, Head of Civil Service Francis Muthaura and former CID
    Director Joseph Kamau.

    Political Connections

    The House committee notes the Artursâ?? top political
    connections were betrayed by the brazenness with which they were
    issued with Kenyan passports, secured admission to police headquarters
    and registered companies in record time.

    The VIP treatment and alacrity with which they were deported after
    they threatened airport staff also speaks volumes, concludes the
    report. The committee also seeks that PNU activist Mary Wambui and her
    daughter Winnie Wambui be investigated. Also to be probed are
    businessmen Raju Sanghani and Kamlesh Pattni.

    The report further recommends investigations into what the President
    knew about The Standard raid.

    "A raid of that magnitude could not have taken place without the full
    knowledge and approval of the Government at the highest levels," says
    the report.

    The committee also seeks the testimony of Michuki and other Government
    officials regarding the Standard raid. In the report, the House team
    equates the "conspiracy of silence and non-cooperation by State
    agents" to the Governmentâ??s attempts to thwart
    Parliamentâ??s efforts to investigate JM Kariuki murder in
    1975.

    Conspiracy Of Silence

    "The Artur brothers were clearly and obviously politically connected
    at the highest levels of Government," says the report.

    The parliamentary team also questions the essence of appointing the
    Kiruki Commission to investigate the Arturs yet recommendations have
    not been made public.

    Former Kikuyu MP Paul Muite who jointly chaired the parliamentary
    committee with Changamwe MP Seif Kajembe accuses Justice Minister
    Martha Karua of having attempted to sabotage the
    committeeâ??s operations.

    Karua, the report claims, used her position as Deputy Leader of
    Government Business to stop a Motion by the committee to allow it to
    collect evidence in public.

    http://www.eastandard.net/InsidePage.php? id=1144007817&cid=4
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