Tycoon sues his estranged wife for Sh500 million ‘theft’

 

A German tycoon has gone to the High Court in Mombasa to seek orders to recover Sh500 million from his estranged wife.

Josef Brunlehner accuses Narriam Khan, from whom he is separated, of secretly withdrawing the money from their company’s five accounts in various banks without his knowledge.

Mr Brunlehner wants the court to order Narriam Khan to refund the money. He has also sought the protection of the court to stop his firm - Diani Homes Company - from being placed in receivership after it closed down.

In an affidavit, he says Khan was his legal wife and owned shares in Diani Homes.

The company builds holiday homes for its clients and also manages Chale Island. It has also developed several properties in Diani, including a golf course and villas that have been sold.

Managing director

According to court papers, Mr Brunlehner, who is being represented by lawyer John Bosire, says proceeds from the sale of the properties were credited to Barclays Bank and Diamond Trust accounts, which were being managed by Ms Khan, who was the managing director of the company.

He says he was surprised to discover that on different dates between 2006 and 2013, his wife secretly withdrew more than Sh500 million and diverted it to her personal accounts, which led to the closure of the company.

“Unknown to me, on diverse dates between 2006 and 2013, when we were still legally married, my wife withdrew all the money from these accounts and transferred it to her personal account,” says Brunlener.

He said he engaged an audit firm that confirmed that Ms Khan withdrew 1.9 million euros from Barcklays bank, Sh162,243 from Diamond Trust Bank, Sh96.2 million from another Barclays Bank account, and Sh101.9 million from the second Diamond Trust Bank account.

Mr Brunlehner accuses Ms Khan of breaching the trust he had in her by entrusting her with running the company.

Filed for divorce

“I am, therefore, bringing a suit seeking to have this money refunded to the company against my wife for breaching the trust she had, having been my wife for 10 years,” he says in the court documents.

He says he has filed for divorce after separating from Ms Khan.

The suit, he says, is a bid to save his company that is now on the brink of liquidation due to piling debts after the plunder by his former wife.

“ I had no alternative but to come to court seek orders to help the company have the money refunded and be saved from liquidation.

He accuses Khan of misappropriation of funds meant to keep the company a float, saying if such orders were not granted the company and its creditors are going to suffer irreparable loss.

“I have brought the suit for the benefit of the company,” says Mr Brunlehner.

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