A court has issued a warrant of arrest against former Java CEO Derrick Cornelius Van Houten after he failed to appear for a criminal case in which he is accused of obtaining millions of shillings by false pretence.
Van Houten is alleged to have fraudulently obtained Ksh7,911,000 from businessman Awil Abdirahman Adulle between 2021 and 2022, under the promise of facilitating the construction of a Java Hotel in Narok County.
Allegations of False Pretence
According to court filings, the former executive allegedly convinced Adulle to invest in the project, assuring him that the funds would be used for construction and operational setup.
However, prosecutors claim the project never materialized, and the funds were neither utilized as agreed nor refunded.
High Court Ruling
The arrest warrant comes just days after the High Court ruled in favor of Adulle in a related civil case.
The court ordered Van Houten and KISS Cosmetics to pay more than Ksh9.4 million to the businessman. The amount covers expenses incurred in renovations, equipment purchases, and other project-related costs.
Breakdown of Payments
Court documents indicate that Adulle made multiple payments totaling over Ksh6.8 million directly to Van Houten for construction and renovation work.
In addition, a further Ksh2.6 million was reportedly paid to KISS Cosmetics for coffee supplies linked to the planned hotel. These supplies were allegedly never delivered, and no refunds were issued.
Legal Troubles Mount
The issuance of the arrest warrant signals escalating legal troubles for the former CEO, as authorities now seek to compel his appearance in court to face the criminal charges.
The case highlights growing concerns over fraudulent investment schemes, particularly in the hospitality sector, where large sums of money can change hands based on trust and projected business opportunities.
