Asian tycoon in court over threats

The proposed Stage Plaza building in Kisii that is under construction and is at the centre of the controversy. [Eric Abuga, Standard]

The wife of an Asian tycoon has been accused of intimidation over a Sh216m construction.

Mr Harish Kanji Patel, the contractor, claim Kaplana Tailor, together with Donald Collins Odhiambo Akoko, who the court heard had claimed to be a consultant from a local bank, forced him to continue with construction. Patel had stopped work over nonpayment

They also threatened to cause him unlawful injury.

According to court documents, on September 21, 2017 at the Kisii Municipality/Block 3/377-368 within the town, jointly with others, they caused Patel to do an act which he was not legally bound to.

The case is before Chief Magistrate Nathan Lutta with the parties set to appear in court in September 16, 2019 to continue with the hearing.

In the particulars of the case, Patel a Director of Inticom Africa Limited entered in agreement with a client; AM Tailor Kisii to construct a Sh216m Stage Plaza.

The company begun construction of the building in May, 2016 and in May, 2017 the contractor had done 89 per cent of the structure.

“The client started giving excuses to avoid payments, totalling to Sh129,242,560,” says Patel.

He further says that between May 2017 and August 2017 they held eight meetings. In another meeting A.M. Tailor invited two other people who posed as members of the Co-operative Bank Limited consultants.

“The two bank imposters instructed my company to continue with work without payment or else I terminate the construction on the site and never to come to Kisii,” said Patel.

However, Kaplana said she got the reference of the two ‘imposters’ from Co-operative Bank.

“The two fellows are quantity surveyors. The two were referred to us by the bank because we were in need of some cash or bank loan.”

However, The Standard has learnt that the two parties will be meeting on Saturday for arbitration purposes. The construction of the house has stopped for a couple of months.