The battle over the Mumias Sugar Limited (MSC) lease award to a Uganda based firm has taken a new twist after another firm sued for contempt of court.
The legal fights have deepened with a new application to jail Sarrai Group directors and the receiver-manager Ponangipalli Venkata Ramana Rao.
This happened after Sarrai asked the court to lift lease freeze orders as it had allegedly started reviving the ailing miller before they were issued, Tumaz and Tumaz Enterprises Ltd has also moved to back the same seeking to jail Sarrai’s directors and Mumias receiver manager Rao over alleged contempt of court. READ MORE
Tumaz is linked to businessman Julius Mwale.
In its application filed before High Court judge Jairus Ngaah, Tumaz claimed that Sarrai directors had in their court papers seeking to lift the orders issued December last year admitted they were aware of the court orders.
Tumaz lawyer Javier Munzala stated that the Ugandan miller has carried out construction works, ploughing of the farms , and rehabilitated the Mumias company roads in breach of court orders.
The lawyer also claims that Sarrai has allegedly changed security guards.
“ The second respondent through its director Rakesh Kumar Bavts have sworn an affidavit dated December 31, 2021, admitting that they have continued with the interference with the company assets during the pendency of the orders issued herein and therefore there is every indication that the Respondents are not keen to comply with this Court’s reasoned decision,” argued Munzala.
The battle is turning to a tower of barbel, with each party speaking its own language.
Sarrai in its application argued that Tumaz did not deserve the freeze orders as they were issued seven days after it had taken over Mumias.
Its lawyer Wesley Gichaba argued that the firm took over Mumias on December 22, 2021, while Justice Anthony Ndung’u issued his orders on the 29th.“The orders issued on December 29, 2021, will cause untold suffering, embarrassment, and great financial loss and insurmountable economic prejudice to the applicant who has already made significant rehabilitation from the date of take-over,” argued Gichaba.Kumar told the court that the firm will incur massive losses if does not intervene.“ The orders are so oppressive to the applicant (Sarrai) and the ex-parte applicant has not undertaken as to damages despite the huge investments already in place and most likely financial loss to be incurred in the even it does not succeed in the long run,” claimed […]
