….for non-payments of rentals
Is it finally over for Deo’s Consultancy and Broker firm?
DEOGRATIAS Harorimana – the Rwandan national accused by indigenous business owners of “fraudulent and deceitful” dealings – has been evicted from a five-bedroom executive house he claimed to have co-owned with his Solomon Islands’ partner, sources told Solomon Star, Friday.
“The couple has been evicted from the premises due to non-payment of rentals, which have been accumulating for some time. Before it got out of control, eviction seemed to be way out and that was what was done,” the sources said.
The eviction seemed to have hit them like a ton of brick. They left one of their dogs behind when they left the premises,” the sources said.
The couple has moved to a basement of another controversial business premises they claimed to have bought, according to sources.
The executive house is now being renovated.
Solomon Star broke the story earlier this year, providing extensive coverage of claims by Dr. Deo’s victims who accused him of “fraudulent and deceitful” dealings with vulnerable individuals and their businesses.
But the couple’s woes did not end there.
Dr. Deo’s partner, Salome Kwaiga, too has been evicted from business premises in Chinatown where she was renting. Her eviction was for the same reason – non-payment of rentals since January this year.
Salome once rented two rooms – one on the ground floor for $10, 000 a month and the second room on the 2nd floor at $20, 000 a month, according to those connected with the Mokolo Building, where she was operating the JnS Beauty Studio Hair Salon.
“She was paying the rentals until January this year when payments had stopped. So we have asked her to leave before it got worse. Right now we are chasing them to settle the outstanding rentals which is about $210, 000,” according to one source.
“We are now renovating the rooms for new clients.”
Dr. Deo – the owner of AIPF SI Ltd, a consultancy firm turned broker – once told his critics “only moving ships make waves.”
Now his ship, if there is one, seems to be moving in the wrong direction.
At the height of the controversy surrounding his business dealings, Deo questioned the “genuineness of people” who attended a meeting with the Central Bank of Solomon Islands (CBSI) and its Solomon Islands Financial Intelligence Unit (SIFIU) earlier this year.
“The so-called “victims” all owe money or breached commercial contractual terms, which calls into question the motives of all the claims leveled against AIPF SI. Their trap has now backfired,” he was quoted as saying.
“Most people who attended the meeting have no business history or relationships with AIPF.”
In a newspaper article defending his activities, Deo accused his so-called victims of owing his company, AIPF, millions of dollars in unpaid fees.
But victims denied this was the case.
“Deo coerced his victims into signing the ‘AIPF Declaration & Instruction to Act’ form, … with the ultimate agenda to trap victims and suck out whatever funds are there in local businesses or lead those businesses to losing their assets to Deo, according to those representing the man’s victims.
“The exact ‘trap’ is not the late repayment by victims, but it is the way Deo charges the 4 per cent commission on the total value of loans he organised for clients, the 7 per cent default penalty, and the 3 per cent monthly accruing fee.”
“It is now time for authorities to investigate all his activities, including who his contacts are in Our Telekom, in the Ministry of Health and Medical Services, in the Central Tender Board and might I add in the lending section of Bank South Pacific (BSP) because his finger seemed to be everywhere.
“It is time his activities catch up with him. Let him feel the pain and sufferings we his victims have and are going through,” one of his victims said at the time.
Attempts to get a comment from the couple last night were unsuccessful.
By ALFRED SASAKO
Newsroom, Honiara
