Court to rule on DPP’s application to withdraw fraud case against Artur Tigranyan
By Zipporah Ngwatu, January 29, 2026A Nairobi court will deliver a ruling on an application made by the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) to withdraw a fraud case against businessman Artur Tigranyan and two others.
Appearing before Milimani Principal Magistrate Paul Mutai on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, for a mention on the application for withdrawal, the prosecution reiterated that they are still withdrawing the matter.
On December 15, 2025, after all witnesses had testified save for the investigating officer in the matter, the prosecution informed court that she had instructions to make an oral application for withdrawal of the case.
The prosecution told the court that the withdrawal application step was taken following a review process undertaken by the office of the DPP.
Further, the court heard that at the conclusion of the review and in consideration of “all the circumstances” surrounding the case, the DPP’s office noted that the dispute between the parties would be best resolved through civil proceedings.
The State further noted that the most pertinent issue was the directorship of Mr Ceiling Limited, which question would be best addressed in civil proceedings.
However, the complainant’s legal team confirmed to court that they had filed submissions opposing the abrupt withdrawal attempt by the DPP, stating that there have been no material changes in the state of affairs since the suit was filed.
According to the submissions filed on January 23, 2026, the complainant avers that enabling an illegal discontinuance of the suit will not only trample upon their constitutional right to a fair hearing but also defeat the purpose of a criminal trial.
On March 26, 2024, the DPP charged Artur, Daniel Kinuthia and Felix Ochieng with conspiracy to defraud contrary to section 317 of the Penal Code for illegally transferring 500 shares from Artak Harutyunyan and 250 shares from Tigran Arzumanyan to June Okumu.
According to the charge sheet, the three, jointly with others, conspired to defraud Artak and Tigran, falsely pretending that they had obtained consent from them, being the shareholders of Mr Ceiling Limited, to transfer the shares to June.
On another count Artur and Ochieng are accused of intent to defraud and forging a document, namely a transfer deed in respect of the transfer of 500 shares from Urartu Holdings to June Okumu, purporting to have been signed and stamped by Paul Minishi, advocate.
Artur and Ochieng have also been charged with stealing contrary to section 268(1) as read with section 275 of the Penal Code.
“On diverse dates between May 2, 2023, and August 2, 2023, at the registrar of companies within Nairobi County, jointly with others not before court, stole 500 shares of Mr Ceiling Limited valued at Ksh50,000 and transferred the same to Hope June Okumu, the property of Artak Harutyunyan,” part of the charge sheet read.
Magistrate Mutai will deliver the ruling on the DPP’ s application on February 26, 2026.