Controversial businessman Jared Kiasa Otieno and his co-accused have been charged with conspiracy to defraud a Chinese businessman Sh 300 million for fake gold among other charges.
Jared is charged alongside Philip Nahashon Aroko, Robert Ouko Owiti, Ricky Thomas Ochieng, Peter Omondi Onyach, Michael Ochieng, Paul Otieno Ngoche, Alice Nzisa, Joyce Akinyi Ouma, Juliet Kathambi Kithinji, William Otieno Onyango, Hanington Modisa Lugaye, Madan Olwangu Onyino, Seinim Boukar, Abouna Temoua and Lokole Lokunda Albert.
The 16 are accused of conspiracy to defraud Sounthorn Chanthavong, a director of Simuong Group Company from LAO USD 3,000,000 by means of fraudulent tricks and displayed heavy metal boxes allegedly packed with genuine gold bars and having an office trading in the name on NIRONE SAFE KEEPING LIMITED, falsely pretending they were carrying out genuine business.
The are alleged to have committed the offence between 5th and 25th February this year.
Jared, Aroko, Ouko and Ricky are charged with obtaining the Sh 300 million from the businessman at Kaputei Gardens in Kileleshwa, Nairobi pretending they had genuine gold.
Ghana trademark
Apart from Jared, the other 15 accused persons are charged with counterfeiting trademark. The court heard that on 13th May this year, the accused persons jointly with others not before court, counterfeited Ghana Customs Authority stickers trademark purporting to be genuine stickers authorized by the Ghana Customs Authority.
They are also charged with preparation to commit a felony to with obtaining money by false pretenses since they had in their possession fake gold bars, heavy metal boxes stuffed with bags of cement, mallet hammers and Ghana customs stickers all to convince unsuspecting people that they were carrying out genuine gold business.
They denied the charges before Chief Magistrate Francis Andayi.
Their lawyers, led by Cliff Ombeta and Stanley Kangahi asked the court to grant their clients lenient bond/bail terms.
The court heard that among the accused persons is a gardener, taxi driver, and messengers arrested in the sweep and can nearly afford bail.
The magistrate noted that since the accused persons are of different status, there is need to get a pre-bail report before granting the accused persons bail.
The magistrate directed the accused persons to be remanded until Monday 27th.
The case will be heard on 1st July.
