Aeroplanes, ships grounded: Embattled tycoon Kariuki moves to court to fight freezing order

Embattled billionaire Humphrey Kariuki on Thursday, August 15, moved to court to have an August 9 court order freezing all his assets lifted, saying “his beverages business will suffer”.

The Director of Public Prosecutions was last Friday granted permission by a Nairobi court to freeze all the businessman’s property.

Kariuki, the owner of an alcoholic beverage company, African Spirits Limited, is accused of evading taxes to the tune of Ksh41 billion.

Some of the tycoon’s assets that have been frozen include ships, aeroplanes among other immovable property.

Milimani Resident Magistrate Caroline Nzibe granted the freezing injunction against Kariuki on August 9.

And now, the businessman has filed an application in court seeking to have the freezing order suspended.

Kariuki says Resident Magistrate Nzibe erred, while issuing the injunction.

Through his lawyer, Benjamin Musyoki, Kariuki says the freezing order may result in the “shut-down, crippling and even thwarting of his other business, Wow Beverages Limited”.

“In view of the grave excessive, punitive and unjustified harm loss, damage and prejudice, Wow suffers loss of business,” argued the businessman’s lawyer.

In court documents, Kariuki says the orders issued on August 9 “were obtained in bad faith” since Kariuki did not take plea on the 9th.

"There is no evidence of any risk or dissipation of any of the assets placed before court which include aeroplanes, ships and other immovable properties,” said Musyoki.

The freezing order will remain active until Kariuki’s case is heard and determined, the court said on August 9.

The businessman has been ordered to appear in court on Monday, August 19.

Kariuki’s application, which was penciled in for hearing on Thursday, August 15, was pushed back after the Prosecution requested for more time to respond to the complainant.

Kariuki is out of Kenya, with detectives looking for him in European nations. He was last spotted in London three days ago, just a few days after leaving South Africa.

This comes even as DCI boss George Kinoti, says that Kariuki can run, but he cannot escape the long arm of the law.