Former Kenyan governor is accused of being racist

Mr A.R. Rebelo claimed Mr Cheserem had shown "open hatred" towards Mr Pattni and used the police to harass him, adding that his client was a victim of racial prejudice.

"If it was another country, he would have been prosecuted," Mr Rebelo told a five-judge Court of Appeal bench hearing Mr Pattni's plea to terminate Goldenberg-related cases.

He added: "The Attorney-General and others yielded to Mr Cheserem."

He added: "He should never have been a governor. He only knows how to run a store. He should have remained Unilever's store keeper. He did not have the background and knowledge to run Kenya's economy."

Mr Cheserem had worked for Unilever before he was appointed governor. After his tenure, he returned to the multinational company.

Mr Pattni and his firm, Goldenberg International, are asking Judges Evans Gicheru, R.O. Omolo, P. Tunoi, A.B. Shah and E. O'Kubasu to reverse a High Court decision not to terminate criminal cases involving Sh13.5 billion, Sh5.8 billion, Sh322 million and Sh16 million.

Mr Rebelo accused the bank of abusing the criminal process by filing several charges against Mr Pattni to pressurise the businessman to give up Nairobi's Grand Regency Hotel.

The hearing continues.