Businessman Kevin Obia handed one year jail term in gold scam case

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Businessman Kevin Obia at Milimani Law Courts at a previous date

Controversial businessman Kevin Obia alias Kevin Kleigh has been sentenced to one year in jail after the conclusion of his Sh 57 million gold scam case.

Chief Magistrate Francis Andayi found the businessman guilty of attempting to defraud Australian businessman Christian Gallati over Sh 54 million on pretext that he was in a position to sell him 13 kilograms of gold in 2015.

However, the court acquitted Obia of one count of obtaining money Sh 13.7 from Gallati for lack of sufficient evidence.

While delivering the sentence, the magistrate gave the businessman an alternative to pay a Sh 300,000 fine to secure his freedom.

The magistrate accused the police of failing to arrest the prime suspects in the scam whom he referred to as Jared Otieno who was apparently at the centre of the whole transaction.

He wondered why Otieno had not been arrested yet the complainant had positively identified him as the main person as he participated in the transaction and even signed documents in respect to the sale.

According to the magistrate, the prosecution for failing to arrest Obia with an offence of operating a gold business without a licence.

The court also dismissed Obia’s request to be put on a non-custodial sentence on grounds that was not remorseful for his actions.