Mombasa
businessman Ali Punjani who has been mentioned adversely over the Lamu land
saga is expected to record a statement with the CID headquarters this week.
This
comes after reports indicated that he acquired the controversial plots through
connections with Othaya MP Mary Wambui and the secretary to the cabinet Francis
Kimemia. Kimemia and Wambui were
ultra-powerful personalities within the corridors of power during Mwai Kibaki’s
administration.
Preliminary
investigations reveal that Punjani had even sold one of the controversial
parcels for approximately Sh870 million. Interestingly, and according to the
report, the buyers never set foot on the land before buying it, but only
surveyed it by helicopter.
According
to records by state agencies, the deal was sealed through a company known as
Rising Star Commodities where Punjani is one of the directors. The company
which bought the controversial land for the millions is trading as Calyon
Enterprises. Calyon’s directors who signed the transfer agreements are listed
as Nazlin Mohamed and Aisha Nathoo.
The
directors later used the sale documents and title of the 40,140 acres to secure
Sh870 million from Diamond Trust Bank to pay Rising Star. Sources say the
charge on the property by the bank was registered at the ministry of Lands on
November 21 2013.
The
report further reveals that the controversial plot was earlier allocated to
Rusken International Limited, who then transferred it to Rising Star on
February 8 2013. Rusken International Limited was registered on July 2 2007
with Farouk Hamid and Hussein Hamid as directors.
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