A Nairobi court has issued orders to have a car dealer detained for 10 days to allow police to complete investigations into allegations of Sh 11 million fraud.
Daniel Mwaura Hinga is accused of defrauding a buyer sh 11.6 million for importation of a BMW on diverse dates between 30 May and 20th July 2023 within Westlands, Nairobi.
Investigating officer Sammy Shamala told Senior Resident Magistrate Wandia Nyamu that he is investigating the offence of obtaining money by false pretence which was reported at Parklands police station.
The officer told the court that Hinga is alleged to be the beneficiary of Sh11.6 million which he fraudulently and unlawfully obtained from Eugene Oigara.
Hinga is accused of duping the buyer that he was in a position to import a motor vehicle BMW M3 valued at USD 2800 and additional trade in of another BMW X3 valued at Sh 3.4 million.
The court heard that the complainant met Hinga through an online trading platform as Driveline motors limited, a company which he used to defraud him, before closing down the offices which were based at Two Rivers.
It is alleged that Oigara trusted Hinga for the second time and sought his assistance to help him in the clearance of his imported motor vehicle make land rover defender which was at the port of Mombasa and sent him USD 31,000 (apprx. Sh 4.4 million), instead he converted it for his personal gain.
According to the officer, preliminary investigations revealed that upon receiving the money, Hinga transferred it and bought other vehicles which are yet to be recovered.
“There has been a public outcry over a chain of fraudsters posing as car dealers to defraud members of the public of their hard earned money and even reports made including Spring Valley police station report vide OB NO.12/20/7/2023 which we have informed members of the public to come for identification parade that we are yet to conduct,” the officer stated.
He added, “Owing to the gravity of the charge facing the respondent and the fact that he has no known place of abode, he poses a flight risk, releasing the suspects may interfere with the bank accounts which are suspected to have deposited money being the proceeds of crime.”
