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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
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