By Andrew Kariuki
A court has issued a warrant of arrest against former Java CEO Derrick Cornelius Van Houten after he failed to appear for proceedings in a criminal case in which he is accused of obtaining money by false pretence.
Van Houten is alleged to have fraudulently obtained Ksh 7,911,000 from businessman Awil Abdirahman Adulle between 2021 and 2022, under the pretext of facilitating the construction of a Java Hotel in Narok County.
According to the charges, the accused allegedly received the funds with the promise of undertaking the project but failed to deliver on the agreement or refund the money.
The development comes just days after the High Court ruled in favour of Adulle in a related civil matter, ordering Van Houten and KISS Cosmetics to pay more than Ksh 9.4 million. The amount covers expenses incurred by the complainant on renovations, equipment and other project-related costs.
Court documents indicate that Adulle made multiple payments to Van Houten totaling over Ksh 6.8 million for construction and renovation works, as well as an additional Ksh 2.6 million to KISS Cosmetics for coffee supplies. The supplies were allegedly never delivered and the funds were not refunded.
The issuance of the arrest warrant now paves the way for law enforcement agencies to apprehend the accused and present him before court to face the charges.
The case highlights ongoing concerns over fraudulent investment schemes and failed commercial agreements, particularly in the hospitality sector.
