Customer sues Ras Hotel for the return of USD 60,000

By Dawit Ketema
 

The state owned Ras Hotels Enterprise is facing legal action by a foreigner who accused the enterprise for untrustworthiness for a sum of USD 60,000.

A Chinese citizen by the name Liang Shao Kuyang has filed charges at the Federal High Court saying the enterprise had refused to return his rightful money.

The stated individual had booked a room with his wife at the Addis Ababa Ras Hotel on January 19th 2004. The charge states that a disclaimer notice posted behind the reception desk says the hotel shall not take responsibility for the loss of valuables where customers may use the hotel's safe deposit box. But safety deposit receipt issued by the hotel on the other hand, reads that the hotel shoulders liability for the loss of damage "arising out of any act of gross negligence on the part of its employees or servants."

Accordingly, the plaintiff had deposed for safekeeping USD 60,000 and in return received a safe custody receipt from the hotel's clerks. After a ten days stay, the customer checked out and demanded the return of his money.

However, the hotel simply refused to give back the money, the charge states. Though Kuyang’s lawyers gave repeated warnings, the hotel insisted on its defiance, it said.

Capital made repeated attempts to gain comment from the management Ras Hotel to no avail.