Patients and relatives who went to seek medical attention at African Medical Investment Ltd (AMI Hospital, also known as Trauma Center) in Dar es Salaam were yesterday in shock to see court brokers attaching hospital belonging after AMI failed to pay its rental bills for the past 26 months that accumulated to $1.6million.
Speaking to journalists who went to witness the eviction court broker from MEM Auctioneers and General Brokers Ltd, Mr Elieza Mbwambwa, said they were carrying out a court order issued by the High Court of Tanzania, Commercial Division, following a long commercial legal battle involving AMI and a local businessman, Mr Navtej Singh Bains, (the land Lord).
He said that the court ordered for attachment of AMI hospital properties to compensate for the dept, mentioning that as at yesterday, a number of AMI properties were confiscated including three ambulances, one Saloon car (Mark II), special hospital beds, computers, chairs and other hospital gadgets.
“Although we were given an order to confiscate everything at once after the elapse of 14 days notice, which falls today, we have considered humanity in executing this assignment because this is an hospital. We have only taken items that are not used by inn-patients (those who are already admitted).
“We have given the hospital a notice to evacuate admitted patients by 22nd this month of May. If they don’t comply by this time, we will transfer them to other hospitals and hand over the building to the landlord. This has been done in a humanitarian level. We have not disturbed already-admitted patients, but from today onwards, not any other new patient will be allowed in,” he said.
Mr Mbwambwa said that machines like city-scan, x-ray machines and others that are still being used by in-patients have been recorded and will be attached immediately after transferring the patients.When contacted for his comments on behalf of AMI Hospital management, Mr Lawrence Ochola said briefly that they are still continuing to attend to admitted patients and that he could not comment further.
Families and friend of patients admitted at AMI hospital were seen processing documents to transfer their patients. Those who were bringing in new patients were returned by the gate. There is also information that AMI Hospital Bank accounts at EXIM Bank which were attached by the Courts were found to have been unfrozen and most funds emptied.
It is now clear that AMI hospital will be closed down despites its several appeal attempts to stop eviction, leaving its loyal patients in limbo.
The hospital had failed to comply with Tanzania Court of Appeal order that wanted it to deposit in court $1.514 million plus a monthly rent to a tune of $64,000 per month following a tenancy agreement dispute.
AMI Plc Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr Theunis Peter Botha, also a Director and CEO of the local AMI Hospital in Tanzania, subsequently filed the Bankruptcy application in the High Court of Tanzania stating that it was operating insolvently having incurred losses for the past two years.
AMI Tanzania is wholly owned by its London Company AMI Plc.
In a bankruptcy petition filed in March this year before the High Court's Main Registry, the company alleges that it has been incurring losses in terms of billions to the extent of having several outstanding liabilities and debts which are now exceeding its ability to pay to different creditors.
"The petitioner (AMI) incurred a net loss of $1.146 million in the year ended February 28, 2013, while in the year ended February 28, 2014, the petitioner incurred a net loss of 775,000 US dollars," reads a section of the petition document.
It is stated that the company was also required to pay outstanding dues to institutes, notably the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) and the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) and individuals.
According to the petition, given the value of the assets of the company and the amount of money owed to it by creditors, there was no way it would be able to raise enough funds for paying them as well as meeting her obligations.
There are also records showing that Lancet Laboratory (T) Ltd filed for an urgent application against AMI Hospital eviction claiming over Sh150 million owed to them by AMI Hospital.
Inside information has it that several creditors are now in a limbo as the Hospital owes over $4m to them including the biggest creditor being the Landlord Mr Bains, Doctors, Staff, TRA, Pharmaceutical suppliers and other suppliers.
Ukishindwa kulipa mkopo au deni, basi vitu vyako vinaweza kunadiwa ili zikusanywe pesa za kuulipa. Wakati unachukua mkopo au unakodisha nyumba ni vizuri uangalie uwezo wako wa kulipa, siyo tu kujiingiza vitu ambavyo viko juu ya uwezo wako halafu ukapata hasara ya kunadiwa kwa vitu ulivyoacha rehani ikiwemo hata nyumba kwa wale wanaotoa hati za nyumba.
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