Trader in row with ex-lover seeks to stop case

A millionaire businessman is seeking to stop his prosecution over allegations of stealing Sh103,000 and a mobile phone from his own shop.

Daniel Kimani Kariuki (pictured) is accusing his former fiancée, Sylvia Wambui Karanja, of framing him leading to his arrest and prosecution as they battle for control of the multi-million shillings Ridgeways Inn-The Yard on Kiambu Road.

Mr Kariuki claimed he is the majority shareholder and the only one allowed to run business affairs and was surprised when he was arrested and charged on claims he had stolen from his own business.

“The DPP brought up allegations of stealing a non-existent phone from my own business when they do not even have the phone details. They even threatened to charge me with robbery with violence because of my former fiancée,” said Kariuki.

He alleged that the charges are a result of an altercation he had with his estranged lover, after which she complained to police that he had assaulted her, but could not prove the claims.

He swore that they had been in a romantic relationship with Ms Karanja after which they incorporated Bebadis Company Ltd to manage the Kiambu Road restaurant. He had 30 shares and his lover 10.

However, he stated that his problems started in September 2018 when his lover sent him a text message to inform him that she had taken control of the business before walking out of their home.

Kariuki then went to court and in November last year, the High Court gave him control of the popular Kiambu road nightclub and stopped his fiancée from setting foot in the business premises or interfering with its management.

Lady Justice Mary Kasango also stopped Karanja from stepping into the nightclub, collecting any payments from patrons or transferring any money from Ridgeways Inn-The Yard.

After the court’s decision, Kariuki swore that he was first arrested and charged with assaulting Karanja but after the prosecution realised they had no evidence to prove the case, they arrested him again and charged him with stealing.

“The charges were malicious and were targeting me in a bid to settle scores in a commercial dispute in which she had lost. The court made it clear that I was the majority shareholder and stopped her from setting foot in the premises,” said Kariuki.

He stated that a few days after the court ruling, he went to the premises to assign duties to his employees when Karanja arrived and demanded that he leaves the place. She then called police to arrest him after he refused to leave.

He reported to Muthaiga Police Station about the invasion, but he was arrested on claims he had stolen Sh103,000 and a mobile phone.