John Zeyun Yang, the CEO of Erdemann Property Limited, was a relatively unknown man in Kenya until the Lake Basin Development Agency mall scandal emerged, putting him smack in the middle of a bribery scandal.
The Standard reported on Tuesday, September 10, that Yang had not anticipated arrest, and had instructed his assistant to negotiate with the detectives to obstruct any attempts to arrest him.
Police officers are reported to have sought an audience with Yang by posing as clients interested in purchasing property, only to pounce on him once they were let into his office at the Finance House.
Yang's company was contracted by officials in charge of the LBDA project in March 2013, 10 days after the elections, a project estimated at Ksh2.5 billion, a figure that was later inflated to over Ksh4 billion for kickbacks paid to officials, who are currently out on bail.
The Standard reported that this was not the first time Yang was brushing shoulders with the law.
He is alleged to be embroiled in a battle with Athi River Distillers, whom the company accused of improper waste disposal, leading to a pungent smell around where Greatwall Gardens, Edermann's residential project is located.
He is also said to have survived demolitions after Seefar Apartments, another of his properties, was said to have been constructed on Nairobi Dam and obstructing the course of a river.
Erdemann is reported to be locked in a bitter battle with the County Government of Nairobi, demanding Ksh200 million compensation for the perimeter wall around the apartments that the county government brought down.
The Standard also claimed that Yang is putting up 2,720 units that will rise to 34 floors on the banks of Nairobi River in Ngara, touted to be the tallest residential building in the country.
The court case is expected to generate a storm in the government as the Edermann firm is reported to be among the firms expected to deliver on president's Kenyatta's affordable house dream.
