The challenges facing the Standard Media group have increased as auctioneers have moved in to recover a debt of Sh4.1 million owed to Basil Criticos.
Mr. Criticos, who is also the former Taveta MP and chairman of Kenya Trade Network Agency won a Sh3.6 million defamation case against the Mombasa Road-based media house, but the money has not been paid.
In an effort to recover the amount owed, the former legislator, through Moran Auctioneers, has now attached six vehicles and other properties, including office chairs and wooden cabinets for possible auction.
Part of the Warrant of Attachment of Movable property states, “These are to command you to attach the movable property of the said Judgment/Debtor as set out in the schedule hereunto annexed or which shall be pointed out to you by the said D/holder and unless the said judgment debtor shall pay to you the said some of Sh4, 178,218 together with costs of this attachment, to hold the same until further orders from court.”
The document reveals that the Warrant of Attachment and Sale was issued on November 6, 2023, before the Auctioneer proceeded on November 8, and announced the Judgment Debtor’s movable assets, providing the mandatory seven days’ notice. In 2011, Mr. Criticos sued the Standard media group over a story written by its reporter Everlyn Kwamboka
According to court documents, the publication alleged that Mr. Criticos had been prevented from selling his parents’ home and was accused by his niece of forging her grandmother’s signature to authorize the sale of the property.
The publication further alleged that Mr. Criticos’ niece had obtained an order barring him from selling her grandmother’s Sh8 million home and that the former legislator had sold his father’s property without the consent of family members.
Criticos had told the court that no order was issued against him as he was not specifically mentioned in the alleged court order.
Standard Media Group admitted to publishing the disparaging article .
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