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A Canadian athlete is locked in a fierce legal battle with an Eldoret contractor over breach of a Sh5 million loan agreement.

Shuang Liu, who has put up a training base in Kaptagat area, Uasin Gishu county, has sued Julius Kibet for allegedly getting him into a loan agreement scheme that caused him to lose the money to the contractor.

Liu told Eldoret Senior Resident Magistrate Christine Menya that he was introduced to Kibet by his physiotherapist last year.

The Canadian said Kibet approached him with a loan request of Sh5 million, claiming he had won a Sh27 million tender to construct a dam in Soy sub-county. The loan was to be his capital for the project.

Liu said Kibet committed in writing to repay him in US dollars on or before April 1 at 11am through the former’s Barclays Bank account, Eldoret branch.

To win his trust, Kibet allegedly showed Liu the contract agreement from Lake Victoria North Rift Water Service Board.

Award tender

The undated tender document states in part: “I am pleased to inform you that the board evaluated and considered your bid and made a decision to award you the tender as per your bid price of Sh27,083,100 VAT inclusive.” The document was allegedly signed by the water service board chief executive Bonface Mulama.

“Kibet had agreed to pay me Sh 6.7 million after I advanced him the money but he has failed to fulfill his part of the bargain to date,” he told the court.

The magistrate adjourned hearing of the case to October 3, after Kibet— through his lawyer— said  he would not make it to court as he was working in Kakamega.