BY SAM ALFAN.
Several properties associated with businessman Peter Muriithi, the owner of Goldenscape ltd have been frozen over claims of money laundering.
Muriithi and the companies including Goldenscape Trees Africa Limited, Goldenscape Greenhouse limited, Silverstone properties limited were barred from transferring several parcel of land in Ngong, and Rumuruti in Laikipia county.
Five of the parcels are registered under Murithi’s name located at Ndarumo, while ten others are under Silverstone located in Ngong and another registered under Goldenscape Group.
High Court judge James Wakiaga also barred Muriithi from transferring or selling five motor vehicles and six motorcycles.
“An Order be and is hereby issued directing the respective Land registrars to register a caveat against the titles of each of the land parcels specified in order,” ruled the judge.
The court also directed the Director General National Transport and Safety Authority to register a caveat against the titles or records of each of the motor vehicles and motor cycles specified in the order.
Assets Recovery Agency moved to court seeking to prohibit Muriithi and the companies from transferring the properties, pending the determination of a case the agency has filed.
“Court do issue Preservation Orders prohibiting Muriithi, his employees, agents, servants or any other persons acting on his behalf from transacting, transferring or dealing in any manner howsoever in respect of the following land parcels,” urged the agency.
ARA told the court that it suspects the properties are proceeds of crime.
The agency told the court on July 9, last year the Director ARA received information on a suspected case of defrauding members of public, racketeering, obtaining money by false pretense and money laundering committed by the Respondents
Preliminary investigations established that Muriithi and the companies were involved in a suspected scheme of money laundering using funds from members of the public.
The funds were later transferred to bank accounts belonging to companies and business entities owned by Muriithi and ultimately using the illegitimately acquired funds to purchase the properties in the various names of the companies named in the case.
“There is imminent danger the Respondents shall dispose, transfer and dissipate the said properties as there are no Court Orders currently preserving the assets in issue,” urged the agency.
