Akasha family's link raises new questions

Revelations that the two Armenian brothers at the centre of mercenary allegations had ties to the son of a slain drug baron raise new queries about the true nature of their business in the country. 

The Saturday Nation reported yesterday that a Mercedes Benz limousine said to have been used by Mr Artur Margaryan was registered in the name of Mr Baktash Akasha – a son the notorious narcotics dealer Ibrahim Akasha who was shot dead in a Netherlands street five years ago over a drug deal gone sour. 

On Friday, Baktash was among the personalities interviewed by the police investigating the mercenary allegations.

Also questioned was Mr Margaryan and another of his local associates, prominent Nairobi businessman and real estate dealer Raju Sanghani.

Mr Margaryan's elder brother, Artur Sargasyan, is believed to be still in Dubai despite earlier indications that he would return to Kenya before the weekend. 

The Sunday Nation has established that Baktash Akasha and Raju Sanghani were two of the initial contacts who introduced the Armenian brothers to key players in local political, business and security circles. 

They were able to satisfy many people that they were genuine investors, and were even given firearms certificates by the police. 

They were supposedly planning to put up a Sh210 million housing development on Mombasa Road near Nairobi, and a multi-million shillings casino.

Mr Sargasyan declared at the press conference a week ago that they were related to the Armenian Prime Minister and that he was also running for President. 

But sources within the Armenia Government said the two did not have permanent residence in their country and thus did not qualify to run. 

The office of the Armenian Prime Minister, Andranik Markaryan, denied that the duo is related to him. The Armenian Prime Minister’s Press secretary, Mery Haroutyan, said the Prime Minister did not have any relatives by the names Artur Margaryan and Artur Sargasyan.

The Foreign Ministry also denied that the brothers are related to President Robert Kocharian who is running for another term.

An Armenian journalist Edik Baghdasaryan, the chairman of the Investigative Journalists Association of Armenia, informed the Sunday Nation that there was no information about the two even after their pictures were circulated in the local media. 

And an Armenian manager with Internews, Mr Armen Sargysan, said journalists in the country had been unable to confirm the identities and origins of Mr Margaryan and Mr Sargasyan. "Nobody knows those people here including the Government and how they went to Kenya," he said on telephone yesterday.

While the business operations of the two men remained hazy, their lawyer in Dubai, Mr Abdullah Al Noor described his clients as "renowned businessmen who are genuine". 

Mr Noor told Sunday Nation yesterday that mercenary allegations against Mr Margaryan and Mr Sargasyan were "utter nonsense", saying the two were well known businessmen in Dubai with investments in real estate, import and export of electronics and cars, among other businesses. "I have represented the two businessmen for the last seven years and all I know is that they are very genuine businessmen," he added.

An associate in Nairobi who asked not to be named for security reasons, said the Artur brothers forged close ties with two prominent political figures and a controversial tycoon in the city. A businessman whose residence is on Lower Kabete Road, according to the associate, has had business links with the brothers long before they sprang to the limelight. 

Raju Sanghani, who introduced the Armenians to senior ODM figure Mr Kalonzo Musyoka, yesterday admitted getting involved with them as an estate agent. 

But Mr Sanghani said he was cutting links with the brothers until the controversy surrounding them was resolved. "I am writing to Brotherlink Limited today on this matter because it is really affecting my work."

Mr Sanghani provided a copy of the design of the proposed 5,000-unit low-cost housing project he says the brothers wanted to develop at Athi River. 

Mr Sanghani said: "As an estate agent, I did for them the work they wanted for a commission."

He said although the Armenians wanted to buy some houses he had built in Karen, the negotiations were halted because of the price they offered."

Police formerly recorded Mr Margaryan’s statement on Friday afternoon at the Nairobi Area Provincial Police office.

Mr Margaryan first met the Nairobi Provincial Police Officer King’ori Mwangi before being interrogated by the deputy Provincial Criminal Investigations Officer, Isaiah Osugo for over two hours.

From Dubai, their lawyer insisted the two men were involved in charity, claiming they were planning to build schools and churches to help the poor. 

"They want to construct schools, boxing clubs, football pitches all free of charge," he added.

Asked whether Mr Sargasyan would be returning to Kenya, the lawyer said: "Yes he will be coming but I don't know when."

On Friday, Mr Sargasyan could not confirm or deny that he hosted some prominent Kenyans in Dubai last December. He referred Sunday Nation to his brother, who he said was currently speaking on behalf of the family in Kenya.

Asked to comment on the reports of the alleged Dubai meeting with powerful Kenyans, Mr Margaryan said: "It's not your business who I meet."

Elsewhere, Education assistant minister Beth Mugo called for the arrest of Mr Musyoka for being associated with the two.

Speaking in her Dagoretti constituency, Mrs Mugo said it was in bad taste for the Mwingi North MP to have kept the information about the danger the two men were posing to the nation to himself for such a long time and only come out now. She said politicians should not be using Kenyans to settle personal differences but should at all times protect the security of the nation.

And in Kisumu, police outlawed a planned demonstration against the two foreigners. Kisumu Liberal Democratic Party officials had intended to hold a series of demonstrations in the town.

Police chief Tito Kilonzi said they denied the organisers permission because they failed to inform them on time.