Tycoon Mohan Galot charged with fraud
By Agencies
Asian tycoon and founder of London Distillers, Mohan Galot was
on Monday charged with nine counts of forgery in a viscous battle regarding the
shareholding and directorship of the family’s multi-billion shilling group of
companies.
At the centre of the prolonged legal battle between Galot and
his nephews – Pravin Galot and Rajesh Galot – is the control of Galot
Industries, Manchester Outfitters, King Woolen Mills, Mohan Meakin, London
Distillers Kenya Ltd and M G Park.
The billionaire appeared before a Nairobi Magistrate’s Court
where he is accused of making a document without authority after the Court
lifted a stay order that cushioned him against multiple criminal charges.
It is said that on 18th January 2002 with intent to defraud and
without lawful authority he made a false document namely;a notification of
change of directors and secretaries of King Wollen Mills Limited Company
purporting it to be a genuine document.
Galot is accused of making a notification to the effect that Pravin
Galot who is his nephew and Rajesh Galot who were directors of the company had
resigned on 4th January 2001, a fact he knew to be false.
He also faces the same charge where on the same date at Sheria
House’s Registrar of Companies, he allegedly falsified a notification of change
of Directors of Kings Limited Company dated 18th January 2002 to the Registrar.
Galot, whose companies deal in real estate, shares, beverage
distillery, bottling and sale and clothes is also accused of giving false
information to the Registrar of Companies where on 28th March 2002 at Sheria
House, he allegedly knowingly gave false information to the Registrar
Companies.
He also faces other counts of falsifying annual returns for the
year 2006 of Kings Woolen Mills Ltd, purporting it to be a genuine document
made by the directors of the Company.
He denied the charges before Senior Principal Magistrate Peter
Ooko and was freed Cash bail of Ksh 500,000 or Bond of ksh 1 million.
The billionaire was charged after High Court Judge Luka Kimaru
directed the case before the trial Court to commence immediately.
According to the charge sheet, Narendra Galot is the complainant
while Pravin is stated as a prosecution witness.The pre- trial will be on 18th
April and a hearing on June 26 this year.
London Distillers are the makers of Napoleone Brand Whisky,
Meakins Orange Vodka, Meakins Tripple Distilled Vodka, Kahawa Africa Gold,
Napoleone Gold Brandy, Kenya King, White Pearl, Safari Cane, Safari Whisky and
Safari Dry Gin, among others.
