Suspects in Sh 300 million fraud case charged afresh for the second time

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Jared Kiasa Otieno (R) and Philip Aroko at Milimani Law Courts at a past date. Photo/Suek

Seventeen gold fraud suspects gave been charged afresh in a Nairobi court over Sh 300 million foreign currency scam.

This is after the prosecution amended the charge sheet to include a count of preparation to commit a felony.

The accused persons include controversial businessman Jared Kiasa Otieno alias Johnathan Tololwa, Philip Nashon Aroko alias Benson Matola, Ricky Thomas Ochieng alias Tom Okoth, Dillon Kibet, Pauline Adhiambo Odok alias Rose Adhiambo Omamo, Robert Ouko Paul alias Maxwell Oyuga, Peter Omondi Onyach, Michael Omondi Ochieng, Paul Otieno Ngoche, Alice Nzisa alias Faith Nzisa, Joyce Akinyi Ouma, Juliet Kathambi Kithinji, William Otieno Onyango, Hannington Modisa Lugaye, Madam Olwangu Onyino, SeinimBoukar alias Salim Abubakar and Lekoke Lokunda Albert.

Otieno, Aroko, Ricky Ochieng, Kibet and Adhiambo are charged with conspiracy to defraud Simoung Group Company from Lao USD 3 million ( approximately Sh 300 million) by means of fraudulent tricks.

The accused are alleged to have displayed heavy steel boxes allegedly packed with genuine foreign currencies and having an office trading in the name of Nirone Safe Keeping Limited, falsely pretending they were carrying on a genuine foreign currency businesses.

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They are alleged to have committed the offence between 8th and 28th February 2019 in Nairobi, jointly with others not before court.

Otieno, Kibet and Adhiambo are charged with obtaining USD 1 million (Sh 100 million) from Simuong as security to offer a loan of SD 100 million, a fact they knew to be false.

They allegedly obtained the money on similar dates and place with intent to defraud.

The trio is also accused of obtaining USD 2 million (Sh 200 million) from Simuong as a loan for repayment within one month purporting to be Jonathan Tololwa, Benson Mutola and Rose Adhiambo Omamo, a fact they knew to be false.

With the exception of Otieno, Adhiambo, Kibet and Omondi, the other accused persons were charged with preparation to commit a felony.

The court heard that on 13th May 2019 at Kaputei Gardens plot no. 12 in Kileleshwa, Nairobi, they were jointly found in a building designed as an office trading as Nirone Safe Keeping Limited with intent to commit a felony, to wit, they had in their possession fake gold bars, heavy steel boxes stuffed with bags of cement, mallet hammers and Ghana customs stickers all being items intended to commit a felony.

They all denied the charges before Chief Magistrate Wendy Kagendo.

The court maintained the same bond terms for the accused persons.

The prosecution told the court that three of the witnesses are foreigners but will come to Kenya in October to give their testimony in person.

Five witnesses are expected to testify in the matter.