Heritage Flowers Limited director, Mr. Riyaz Punjani, has been fined KSh 300,000 or, in default, sentenced to three months in prison after being found guilty of contempt of court.
The ruling, delivered by Lady Justice Njoki Mwangi of the High Court’s Commercial Division, found that Mr. Punjani had willfully disobeyed lawful court orders, thereby undermining the authority of the judiciary.
In her judgment, Justice Mwangi emphasized that contempt of court is a serious offence and warned that deliberate defiance of judicial authority would not be tolerated.
Mr. Punjani’s co-director, Mr. Shailesh Rai Kumar, criticized the conduct, saying it reflected a disregard for the rule of law and set a poor standard for corporate governance and accountability.
Court records show that the contempt charge stemmed from Punjani’s refusal to comply with an order issued by Justice Chacha Mwita on November 8, 2021. The order had directed him to sign cheques necessary for the proper management of the company.
The dispute resurfaced in October 2023 when Mr. Kumar moved to court after Punjani failed to sign his salary cheque for September 2023. The court again ordered Punjani to sign the cheque, but he declined, prompting the contempt proceedings.
The judiciary noted that his lawyer had failed to demonstrate that the disobedience was unintentional, leading to the conviction.
The ruling serves as a stern reminder that no individual, regardless of their position or financial standing, is above the law. The judiciary reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring accountability and upholding justice in both personal and corporate disputes.
