Magistrate declines to hear application opposing plea taking by tycoon Mohan Galot, refers matter to city court for directions

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Court has declined to hear an application opposing plea taking by billionaire businessman Mohan Galot who was to be charged today.

Addressing Chief Magistrate Francis Andayi, Galot’s lawyer Stanley Kangahi said they have raised weighty issues in the application opposing taking of plea.

The Magistrate however declined to he hear the application saying that he was not prepared for such and therefore had no time.

Magistrate Andayi directed the matter be mentioned on 3rd April before City court  for directions on how it will proceed.

Last week, the tycoon lost a temporary application for stay order at the High Court that preventing any additional charges against him.

Mr Galot is accused of forgery in a dispute with his two nephews regarding the shareholding and directorship of the family’s multibillion shilling group of companies.

While vacating the stay order on the criminal proceedings he had issued earlier, Justice George Odunga said there is no compelling reason advanced by the applicant why the trial ought to be stayed at this stage.

Justice Odunga said the court had considered the likely consequences of continuing to block the plea taking.

“Confronted with such circumstances, what the court ought to do is to consider the twin overriding principles of proportionality and equality of arms, which are aimed at placing the parties before the court on equal footing and see where the scales of justice lie,” judge Odunga ruled.

Galot who is the Chairperson of Galot Industries Limited and his nephews Pravin and Rajesh Galot have been in and out of courts pursuing criminal charges against each  other.

Accusations

It is alleged that Galot forged CR12 REF C.19267 of Galot Industries purporting it to be a genuine document signed by registrar of companies Nicholas Oduor.

He is alleged to have committed the offense on 5th August 2016 in Nairobi jointly with not before court with intent to defraud.
He is also alleged to have forged two other documents purporting them to have been signed by registrar of companies Joseph Sakoi and Polyn Wanja.
The chair is facing another charge of forging CR 12 REF C21676 to King Wollen Mills Limited purporting to be genuine from the registrar of companies.
He is accused of committing the offence on 10th April 2016 in Nairobi jointly with others not before court with intent to defraud.
In addition, chairperson is further charged with forging another CR 12 REF C16594 of Manchester Outfitters limited purporting it to be genuine.
Galot is also charged with uttering CR12 REF19267 registered in the name of his company at Supreme Court of Kenya in Nairobi.
Lastly, he is charged with uttering the forged document registered in the name of Manchester Outfitters Limited at Milimani High Court in Nairobi.