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How Wangui called airport to clear way for Arturs
By Biketi Kikechi
The Standard, Kenya
July 11 2006
Narc activist Mary Wambui's daughter, Winnie Wangui, made several
calls to the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to have the Artur
brothers received, it emerged on Monday.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs protocol officer Paul Letoya testifies
during the Kiruki Commission of inquiry on Monday.
Winnie first called protocol officer Paul Latoya at 6pm on June
8 asking him to assist her guests. The Foreign Affairs ministry
officer said he acted on Winnie's instructions because she was a
senior officer in the ministry.
"She is a senior officer at the ministry and I'm not supposed to
ignore instructions from such officers," said Latoya.
The commission inquiring into the affairs of the mysterious foreigners
Artur Sargasyan and Artur Margaryan held its ninth sitting yesterday,
with Latoya as its 19th witness.
Protocol requirements
The two foreigners were deported last month after causing a security
breach at the airport. Latoya - who receives ministers, diplomats and
other senior Government officers - accorded similar treatment to the
Artur brothers when he found them at the Duty Free Shops lounge.
His duties include helping VIPs through the Customs and Immigration
desks, and also to beat long queues.
Said Latoya: "She (Wangui) called again and gave me the description
of the guests and also told me that they were the Artur brothers".
He then proceeded to the Duty Free lounge where he met and informed
Margaryan that he had been instructed by Winnie to facilitate their
protocol requirements. Latoya then went back to his office on the
understanding that he would return when the Emirates flight from
Dubai lands.
When he went back later after receiving another call from Winnie,
Latoya found Margaryan, two Asian looking
people and Sargsyan, who, he said, had just arrived.
Contradictory testimony
Monday's evidence appeared to contradict the testimony of another
witness, David Opar Ouya, who last week said Sargasyan was at Panari
Sky Centre before going to the airport.
Lawyer Kamau Kuria, who appears for Winnie Wangui at the Kiruki
Commission, makes a point at the proceedings on Monday.
Mrs Rosemary Chirchir, a security officer at the airport, also said
Sargsyan arrived at the airport and was met by Margaryan and four
other people. The Emirates airline passenger manifest, however,
had the name of Artur Gervokyan, the only person listed as a VIP.
Latoya said he found two supervisors assisting the visitors, and
decided to go back to the office but Winnie called again asking him
to continue helping the foreigners with the clearance.
"I went to the baggage area and found that they had already identified
their luggage, but the Customs officers demanded that we call the
owners," said Latoya.
He told the commission that he dashed to the Duty Free lounge and
fetched Margaryan, the Asian-looking people.
Special treatment
While there, Latoya said he received yet another call from Winnie
asking whether he understood any Customs procedures.
He said it was then that he sought assistance from a Customs officer,
who, however, declined to take Winnie's call, saying he was too
junior. He said he then went to his office.
The protocol officer denied claims he facilitated the movement of the
alleged Armenians and their friends from the airport through Unit 1.
Mrs Chirchir had earlier claimed she did not question the foreigners'
movement through the Unit because Latoya accompanied them.
"They did not go through the Immigration and Customs desk; instead,
they went through Unit 1 normally used by passengers going to board
their flights," said Chirchir.
She said VIPs who were accompanied by protocol officers were always
given special treatment.
Hotel commotion disputed
Kuria, however, told the witness she was not saying the truth because
the passengers had gone through the Customs desk and the baggage area,
where a commotion had ensued.
Chirchir replied that she had remained in Unit 1 throughout the time
and did not know what was happening at the baggage area because the
two were some 300 metres apart.
Chirchir also told Kuria that she could not rely on press reports
because newspapers "can write anything." She told the commission that
Sargsyan arrived in the country on June 8, 2006, and anyone claiming
he fought and caused a commotion at a hotel on Mombasa Road was a liar.
She insisted that Latoya visited Unit 1 three times and took Margaryan
and his group upstairs after the Armenian told her he was expecting
his brother from Dubai.
Commissioner Ahmed Isaack asked Kuria to clarify whether he was
representing Winnie Mwai or Winnie Wangui as he had applied earlier.
Kuria said the person mentioned by the witness in the statement he
wrote at the commission was his client.
By Biketi Kikechi
The Standard, Kenya
July 11 2006
Narc activist Mary Wambui's daughter, Winnie Wangui, made several
calls to the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to have the Artur
brothers received, it emerged on Monday.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs protocol officer Paul Letoya testifies
during the Kiruki Commission of inquiry on Monday.
Winnie first called protocol officer Paul Latoya at 6pm on June
8 asking him to assist her guests. The Foreign Affairs ministry
officer said he acted on Winnie's instructions because she was a
senior officer in the ministry.
"She is a senior officer at the ministry and I'm not supposed to
ignore instructions from such officers," said Latoya.
The commission inquiring into the affairs of the mysterious foreigners
Artur Sargasyan and Artur Margaryan held its ninth sitting yesterday,
with Latoya as its 19th witness.
Protocol requirements
The two foreigners were deported last month after causing a security
breach at the airport. Latoya - who receives ministers, diplomats and
other senior Government officers - accorded similar treatment to the
Artur brothers when he found them at the Duty Free Shops lounge.
His duties include helping VIPs through the Customs and Immigration
desks, and also to beat long queues.
Said Latoya: "She (Wangui) called again and gave me the description
of the guests and also told me that they were the Artur brothers".
He then proceeded to the Duty Free lounge where he met and informed
Margaryan that he had been instructed by Winnie to facilitate their
protocol requirements. Latoya then went back to his office on the
understanding that he would return when the Emirates flight from
Dubai lands.
When he went back later after receiving another call from Winnie,
Latoya found Margaryan, two Asian looking
people and Sargsyan, who, he said, had just arrived.
Contradictory testimony
Monday's evidence appeared to contradict the testimony of another
witness, David Opar Ouya, who last week said Sargasyan was at Panari
Sky Centre before going to the airport.
Lawyer Kamau Kuria, who appears for Winnie Wangui at the Kiruki
Commission, makes a point at the proceedings on Monday.
Mrs Rosemary Chirchir, a security officer at the airport, also said
Sargsyan arrived at the airport and was met by Margaryan and four
other people. The Emirates airline passenger manifest, however,
had the name of Artur Gervokyan, the only person listed as a VIP.
Latoya said he found two supervisors assisting the visitors, and
decided to go back to the office but Winnie called again asking him
to continue helping the foreigners with the clearance.
"I went to the baggage area and found that they had already identified
their luggage, but the Customs officers demanded that we call the
owners," said Latoya.
He told the commission that he dashed to the Duty Free lounge and
fetched Margaryan, the Asian-looking people.
Special treatment
While there, Latoya said he received yet another call from Winnie
asking whether he understood any Customs procedures.
He said it was then that he sought assistance from a Customs officer,
who, however, declined to take Winnie's call, saying he was too
junior. He said he then went to his office.
The protocol officer denied claims he facilitated the movement of the
alleged Armenians and their friends from the airport through Unit 1.
Mrs Chirchir had earlier claimed she did not question the foreigners'
movement through the Unit because Latoya accompanied them.
"They did not go through the Immigration and Customs desk; instead,
they went through Unit 1 normally used by passengers going to board
their flights," said Chirchir.
She said VIPs who were accompanied by protocol officers were always
given special treatment.
Hotel commotion disputed
Kuria, however, told the witness she was not saying the truth because
the passengers had gone through the Customs desk and the baggage area,
where a commotion had ensued.
Chirchir replied that she had remained in Unit 1 throughout the time
and did not know what was happening at the baggage area because the
two were some 300 metres apart.
Chirchir also told Kuria that she could not rely on press reports
because newspapers "can write anything." She told the commission that
Sargsyan arrived in the country on June 8, 2006, and anyone claiming
he fought and caused a commotion at a hotel on Mombasa Road was a liar.
She insisted that Latoya visited Unit 1 three times and took Margaryan
and his group upstairs after the Armenian told her he was expecting
his brother from Dubai.
Commissioner Ahmed Isaack asked Kuria to clarify whether he was
representing Winnie Mwai or Winnie Wangui as he had applied earlier.
Kuria said the person mentioned by the witness in the statement he
wrote at the commission was his client.