BY SAM ALFAN.
Investigation conducted on African Spirits, Wow Beverages Limited and their associates reveal possibility of money laundering.
In documents filed in court, Director of Public Prosecutions said the investigation is complex in nature because forensic analysis required to be undertaken.
“Taking into consideration of intertwined companies as described in the documents having noted that the DCI and Inspector General accordingly successfully made application before a Kiambu magistrate miscellaneous application dated August 16 with resultant orders that the funds held in the nine accounts at KCB and national be preserved for a period of 90 days”, said the investigating officer.
The document said African Spirits Limited shareholders and directors are signature wines (HL) limited, Golden valley properties limited, Gemtal limited , Claudine Mathis, Lionsbridge Limited, Kigumba limited, Axis logistics limited , Peter Njenga Kuria and Geofrey Kaaria Kinoti Mbabua.
Preliminary investigations have further revealed that that shareholders and directors of all companies named are one and the same persons and are even related.
According to CR13/12 records obtained from the office of Attorney General, the Kigumba limited appearing as a shareholder of African Spirits with one ordinary share, the shareholders and directors are Humphrey Kariuki Ndegwa, Kisima Management Company and Nyawira Wangari Ndegwa.
Billionaire Humphrey Kariuki with others mentioned above are shareholders and directors Axis Logistics limited a company which is a one shareholder of African Spirits Limited. Others people who are shareholders of companies mentioned in the court documents are Stuart Heard Gerald, Robert Ithinji Muriithi and Dennis Muriithi Kimathi.
The DPP said 90 days are still active and it expires on November 16 which Director of Criminal Investigation George Kinoti and IG is expected to have completed the investigation or alternatively seek further orders.
The DPP made an application opposing orders unfreezing nine accounts belonging to the companies.
The prosecution argued that African Spirits has failed to prove or demonstrate that DPP and IG have been forum shopping or abused the legal process as they have never raised any of the issues before courts and further demonstrate that any evidence of double jeopardy.
