Mombasa’s English Point Marina property’s developer is facing fraud and money laundering investigations. The investigations come amidst a bitter war with apartment buyers. According to a report that appeared in the Business Daily on Monday, the buyers allege that they have been locked out of houses despite paying Sh. 600 million for them.
The buyers are also challenging the decision by English Point Marina to deny them a chance to sublet their apartments.
“The buyers claim that an internal memo ordered English Point Marina’s staffers to discriminate against black African homeowners by implementing strict rules to deny them access to the property” the report said.
The report says that High Court judge John Mativo has allowed the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to probe Pearl Beach Hotels Limited, who is the developer, for theft through fraudulent billing of apartment owners.
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The project consists of 96 apartments, eight penthouses and a 26-room hotel. English Point Marina is owned by Amin Kanji, his wife Leila, brother Alnoor, sister-in-law Nafisa and Nazir Jinnah.
The report said that among the disgruntled buyers are Rockefeller Foundation Africa boss William Asiko, Jubilee financier Sam Kairu and tycoon Booker Mbugua. Others are Susan Muigai, Kariuki Minju, Joseph Wanjui, Solomon Bundi, James Kinuthia, Resilient Investments, Everywhere Investments and Silverline Investments.
In addition the Office of the Attorney General, revealed to the court that detectives have uncovered that English Point Marina may be laundering illicit funds.
“Preliminary investigations have revealed possible offences relating to fraud and money laundering which can only be proved or disapproved by analysis of the documents requested. The investigation powers conferred on the police are designed to serve a salutary purpose and the application is further misconceived as Pearl Beach Hotels has not demonstrated, beyond wild conjecture, how the request for information is in excess of the DCI’s authority,” Peace Maithya, a detective probing English Point Marina, said in court papers.