How police arrested AU diplomat at JKIA over Sh3.6m hotel bill
Kenyan authorities have detained an African Union (AU) diplomat for non-settlement of Sh3.6 million incurred during a 2012 conference he organised at Nairobi’s Laico Regency Hotel.
Omar Faruk Osman, a Somali national, was arrested last week at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport while travelling to Morocco, following complaints by local tours and travel firm Pinnacle – which organised the conference on his behalf.
“Immediately after the conference Mr Osman promised to pay the sums through numerous meetings and emails,” Pinnacle said in its petition, adding that Mr Osman had at one time confirmed that the amount had been sent to their local bank account but nothing had been paid to date.
Justice Charles Kariuki issued a warrant for his arrest after Pinnacle went to court claiming that Mr Osman, who has been on the run since 2012, has occasionally sneaked in and out of Kenya without settling the debt.
Mr Osman, who was arraigned in court on Monday, was released after depositing Sh1.8 million as security and surrendering his three passports, pending the hearing and determination of a case Pinnacle has filed at the Milimani Court.
Aside from his Somali and British passports, Mr Osman also holds an AU diplomatic passport.
Pinnacle claims Mr Osman incurred the debt when he organised a conference at the Laico Regency Hotel as an official of the East Africa Journalists Association (EAJA).
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SOURCE: Business Daily