A businessman has been charged with obtaining Sh 10 million from a US citizen by pretending to have won a tender to supply sand to a Chinese Construction Company.
John Mukundi Karundo alias Tony is alleged to have committed the offense on diverse dates between 25th December 2017 and 15th May 2018 within Nairobi County with intent to defraud.
Karundo is said to have dupped Nesphor Michael Wakoli who met the accused for the first time in the US in 2007 the money by falsely pretending that he had won the tender to supply sand to Aviv Construction company and was in a position to pay the amount.
The accused denied the charges before Chief Magistrate Francis Andayi who granted him a bond of Sh 2 million or alternative cash bail of Sh 1 million.
The case will be mentioned on 12th November 2018.
The middle-aged Karundo is also accused of escaping probation after a five-year sentence in the United States.
He is said to have been sentenced for filing false tax returns. He pleaded guilty to 14 counts of making false claims and 12 counts of wire fraud.
Nesphor only learned later that Karundo had conned another person 1 million with a promise of paying back but never did.
The police acted on a tweet by activist Boniface Mwangi where he stated that efforts by the victim to get justice was being frustrated by a senior police officer in Kenya.
The accused is alleged to be residing in Kasarani area of Nairobi in a well-guarded mansion.
When the story was posted on social media, several other people have come out claiming to also have been conned by this guy.
He also found out that in Kenya, Karundo is a known conman and facing assault charges after beating up a woman who had also loaned him money.
Eunice Muthoni is said to have loaned the accused Sh 800,000 and refused to pay her. When she confronted him on the issue, he attacked her and started slapping and kicking her.
