Controversial businessman Paul Kobia has been charged alongside 13 of his employees with conspiracy to defraud an Italian national 140,000 USD in a gold trade.
The accused persons are accused of conspiring to defraud Italiana Antonio Cianci, Director of Iron and Steel DMCC from Dubai by means of fraudulent tricks and displaying metal boxes purportedly packed with genuine gold bars and having an office trading as Duaf International Limited and Malva Amit limited, falsely pretending to be carrying out genuine gold business.
They are alleged to have committed the offence on diverse dates between 23rd and 25th April this year along Riverside Drive in Nairobi.
Those charged alongside Kobia are Simon Wainaina, Paul Gichuhi, Benjamin Mutisya, Patrick Ngula, Samson Kibet, Faith Kioko, Joyce Wenani, Mirriam Nyambura, Consolata Thirindi, James Masai, Doreen Kathambi, Tanya Yvonne Goes and Gabriel Ndururi Murage.
Kobia and Tanya Goes were also charged with obtaining the 140,000 USD (equivalent to 14 million) from Cianci on 25th April pretending they had genuine gold for sale.
All the 14 accused persons also faced a charges of preparation to commit a felony on 26th June at Dwaf International to wit obtaining money by apse pretences since they had in their possession fake gold nuggets, smelting pots, metal tongs, X-ray florescence spectrometers and assorted rubber stamps and seals, all being items to convince unsuspecting people that they carrying out genuine gold business so as defraud them money.
Kobia is alone charged with forging several stamps after being found in possession of instruments capable of making collector stamps duties Kenya Revenue paid pounds, Chief Magistrate’s court Nairobi, National Treasury P.O Box 30007-00100 Nairobi, Director of Geological surveys and Ministry of mining.
Others include Kenya Revenue Authority Hqrs customs and excise Dept, Executive office of the President (procurement) P.O Box 40530-00100, Nairobi, Central Bank of Kenya and Registrar of companies Kenya.
They all denied the charges before Chief Magistrate Martha Mutuku.
Kobia and Tanya Goes were released on a cash bail of Sh 2 million each while the rest of the employees were released on a cash bail of Sh 100,000.
The case will be mentioned on 26th July and will be heard on 30th August 2019.
