MP accused of issuing bad cheques

Two businessmen have accused an MP of issuing invalid cheques and have filed a suit claiming Sh244,780 from the legislator.

Emgwen MP Elijah Lagat allegedly issued three bad cheques to Jesse Maina and Samuel Wachira after he hired two cars from them.

The two businessmen, who are partners in a car-hire business, filed a suit against him at the High Court last Thursday, claiming unpaid dues, damages and interest.

The MP could not be reached for comment as telephone calls to him went unanswered. He had not replied to an SMS message sent to him by Tuesday afternoon.

The businessmen claim that he hired the vehicles on dates between November 2010 and January 2011 on terms that he would be paying Sh2,500 per day, for 32 days.

When they demanded payment, the MP allegedly issued two cheques, last year, and another in January 2011.

“The cheques were dishonoured on account of the defendant having insufficient funds,” the businessmen state in their suit.

They are also claiming additional damages, claiming that Mr Lagat failed to maintain the vehicles in good condition.

As a result, Mr Maina is claiming Sh42,500 for two dud cheques allegedly issued in October and December 2010.

He is also seeking payment of Sh96,280 which he allegedly incurred to replace the engine of one of the cars after Mr Lagat used it.

He is also claiming car hire arrears of Sh80,000 and spare part costs of Sh3,500, making his total claims against the MP to be Sh222,280.

His partner is claiming Sh22,500 for a dud cheque allegedly issued in January 2011.

Mr Lagat is the second MP in three months to face accusations, and a law suit, for allegedly issuing cheques which bounced.

In July, a magistrate issued a warrant of arrest against Garsen MP Danson Mungatana for similar allegations.

The MP had faced six counts of issuing bad cheques for Sh5,475,600 to a real estate company.

However, he escaped arrest after the High Court three days later suspended the warrant to await the outcome of a challenge which he filed.

Last month, two more businessmen emerged claiming that the MP also owed them even as police a Mombasa magistrate authorised police to investigate Mr Mungatana’s bank accounts.