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.
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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.
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