Katiti charged for theft

AUGUSTINUS Katiti, former CEO of Walvis Bay, has been charged with theft by the former owner of Remax Properties in Windhoek.

The charge was made only days after a final letter of demand was forwarded to Katiti to pay his last instalment of about N$775 000 for his new business. The Namibian spoke to Regina Kotchanova, who previously worked at the Windhoek Franchise of Remax Properties – which was owned by her husband, Nikolai Kotchanov.She said she went to the Windhoek Police Station on Tuesday to lay the charge of theft against Katiti.She said Katiti allegedly breached the contract they had signed earlier this year in which the Remax franchise was sold to him and his business, Beauhomes Real Estate.Kotchanova said it was agreed that Katiti would buy and take over the business with all the equipment and furniture as from June 1, and he would then pay the last instalment of N$775 000 in September.She claims that he has not paid this amount yet, with his reason being that Kotchanov still owed the Receiver of Revenue money.In the meantime, Katiti has sold all of the office equipment and furniture, valued to about N$100 000, according to Kotchanova.She said if Katiti did not pay the last instalment by the date stipulated in the final notice, Katiti would face further legal action in the New Year.In the meantime, Katiti’s legal representative, Metcalfe Legal Practitioners, issued a press release yesterday in response to the allegations.It stated that it would defend any legal action instituted by Kotchanov and would submit a counterclaim.A civil suit for defamation might also be launched against Kotchanova in the new year, it said.The statement made by Metcalfe on behalf of Katiti said Kotchanova was never an owner of the Remax franchise, and was only offered employment as an estate agent after the franchise was acquired by her husband, Kotchanov.It said Kotchanova was subsequently dismissed.It further states that more than N$600 000 of the total selling price of N$1,125 million was paid to Kotchanov, and not N$350 000 as stated by his wife.It further alleges that Kotchanov did not fully disclose to his wife all the payments he had received.It goes on to state that the former owner of Remax failed to disclose all the creditors when the franchise was bought, that the new owners had to pay all these creditors, and that Kotchanov now refused to reimburse the new owners.The statement accuses Kotchanov of fraudulently receiving commission and rental income after the franchise had been transferred.On the issue of outstanding income and taxes, Katiti claims that Kotchanov and his wife have not been paying taxes since 2002.”The uncertainty was that the new owner was never informed as to how this situation would impact on his new business, and whether these outstanding taxes in any way accrued to the franchise,” the statement read.”The decision was then reached between all the involved parties to seek legal and tax opinion in this regard before the transaction was concluded.”With regards to the office furniture, non-permanent fittings, and equipment – these were part of the franchise agreement, and were included with the acquisition of the franchise, according to the statement.It acknowledges that everything was sold or donated, and that new furniture and equipment were acquired.”Mrs Kotchanova’s statements are obnoxious, malicious and defamatory and legal action shall be instituted against her,” the statement concludes.The Namibian spoke to Regina Kotchanova, who previously worked at the Windhoek Franchise of Remax Properties – which was owned by her husband, Nikolai Kotchanov.She said she went to the Windhoek Police Station on Tuesday to lay the charge of theft against Katiti.She said Katiti allegedly breached the contract they had signed earlier this year in which the Remax franchise was sold to him and his business, Beauhomes Real Estate. Kotchanova said it was agreed that Katiti would buy and take over the business with all the equipment and furniture as from June 1, and he would then pay the last instalment of N$775 000 in September.She claims that he has not paid this amount yet, with his reason being that Kotchanov still owed the Receiver of Revenue money.In the meantime, Katiti has sold all of the office equipment and furniture, valued to about N$100 000, according to Kotchanova.She said if Katiti did not pay the last instalment by the date stipulated in the final notice, Katiti would face further legal action in the New Year.In the meantime, Katiti’s legal representative, Metcalfe Legal Practitioners, issued a press release yesterday in response to the allegations.It stated that it would defend any legal action instituted by Kotchanov and would submit a counterclaim.A civil suit for defamation might also be launched against Kotchanova in the new year, it said.The statement made by Metcalfe on behalf of Katiti said Kotchanova was never an owner of the Remax franchise, and was only offered employment as an estate agent after the franchise was acquired by her husband, Kotchanov.It said Kotchanova was subsequently dismissed.It further states that more than N$600 000 of the total selling price of N$1,125 million was paid to Kotchanov, and not N$350 000 as stated by his wife.It further alleges that Kotchanov did not fully disclose to his wife all the payments he had received.It goes on to state that the former owner of Remax failed to disclose all the creditors when the franchise was bought, that the new owners had to pay all these creditors, and that Kotchanov now refused to reimburse the new owners.The statement accuses Kotchanov of fraudulently receiving commission and rental income after the franchise had been transferred.On the issue of outstanding income and taxes, Katiti claims that Kotchanov and his wife have not been paying taxes since 2002.”The uncertainty was that the new owner was never informed as to how this situation would impact on his new business, and whether these outstanding taxes in any way accrued to the franchise,” the statement read.”The decision was then reached between all the involved parties to seek legal and tax opinion in this regard before the transaction was concluded.”With regards to the office furniture, non-permanent fittings, and equipment – these were part of the franchise agreement, and were included with the acquisition of the franchise, according to the statement.It acknowledges that everything was sold or donated, and that new furniture and equipment were acquired.”Mrs Kotchanova’s statements are obnoxious, malicious and defamatory and legal action shall be instituted against her,” the statement concludes.