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Kenya: Police Arrest Armenian Brothers

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  • Kenya: Police Arrest Armenian Brothers

    The Standard, Kenya
    June 9 2006


    Kenya: Police Arrest Armenian Brothers

    The East African Standard (Nairobi)
    June 9, 2006


    Standard Reporter
    Nairobi

    Police have arrested seven people including the two Armenian
    brothers, Artur Margaryan and Artur Sargasyan, after they were caught
    up in a near-shootout with airport security officcers last night.

    Police also recovered hoods and motor vehicle number plates from the
    Armenians' Runda house in Nairobi. They also found 11 top of the
    range cars, one bearing government number plates, parked at the
    residence.

    The raid was carried out by about 40 police officers, who forced
    their way into the compound by breaking down the gate after the
    brothers refused to let them in. Also arrested was a third alleged
    brother of the Armenians, and four employees said to be bodyguards.

    According to police sources, the raid was ordered by Police
    Commissioner Major-General Hussein Ali after the Arturs assaulted a
    customs official at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport last
    night. Sargasyan was said to have arrived in the country from Dubai
    accompanied by a woman. They refused to have their luggage inspected
    by customs officials and a confrontation ensued.

    Sargasyan is said to have drawn his gun and assaulted a customs
    official. They then walked away with his brother, Margaryan, who had
    gone to pick him up with about five bodyguards. The suspects are
    being held at Muthangari and Kileleshwa police stations.

    Raid on Standard Group

    The Armenian brothers have been at the centre of mercenary claims
    since March, when Langata MP Raila Odinga circulated copies of their
    passports, claiming they took part in the raid on the Standard Group.

    A week later, the two brothers held a press conference at the Jomo
    Kenyatta Kenyatta International Airport VIP lounge and denied the
    mercenary claim, saying they were businessmen seeking to invest in
    Kenya. They claimed that they had loaned Raila about Sh100 million.

    They also claimed that Raila and Mwingi North MP, Mr Kalonzo Musyoka,
    had asked them for Sh3 billion last year to finance a no-confidence
    motion against President Kibaki.

    The two claimed that the President of Armenia was their uncle and
    that they had vast business interests in various Asian and African
    states, including Kenya.

    They claimed that they had copies of CCTV footage on all the meetings
    they held with Raila and Kalonzo Musyoka at the Serena and Grand
    Regency hotels.

    On March 14, attempts by police officers to arrest and search the
    Armenians' Runda Estate house failed after Margaryan refused to let
    them in.
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