Eight people have been charged with conspiracy to steal over Sh 400 million from NCBA Bank.
Peter Wambui, Isac Kipkemoi, Moses Rono, Collins Kipyegon, Maxwell Ributhu, Edwin Cheruiyot, Gideon Rono and Gedion Kirui are accused that between 1st January and 4th July 2022 at unknown place jointly with others not before court, conspired to steal Sh449,647,200 from NCBA Bank.
The eight are also charged with engaging in organised crime activities.
The court further heard that on the same dates and place, the accused persons jointly with others not before court, acted in concert with others on commission of serious crime of stealing for the purpose of obtaining financial benefit.
Rono, Kipyegon and Ributhu are also accused of being in possession of 2,014 Safaricom sim cards at Kiamunyu Estate in Nakuru, knowing that the said sim cards were adapted for the purpose of committing a crime.
On the other hand, Cheruiyot faces a solo charge of being in possession of a Subaru Forester which he knew was a proceeds of crime from the offence he had committed.
The eight denied the charges before Chief Magistrate Susan Shitubi.
The prosecution sought to have the accused persons released on cash bail commensurate to the amount in the charge sheet.
However, defence lawyers Ham Lagat and Felix Kiprono opposed the same urging the court to release their clients on lenient cash bail.
The defence submitted that the alleged amount of Sh 449,647,200 does not appear in the evidence before Principal Magistrate Robinson Ondieki who had released the accused earlier on a cash bail of Sh 200,000 with two surety each.
“Nothing has been placed before court, no bank statement or financial documents apart from just a big amount to cause public fear and attract the public attention,” Lagat submitted.
In addition, Kiprono submitted that the accused are jobless and had no known source of income.
“We invite you to exercise your judicial discretion and admit the accused on reasonable bond terms and we humbly suggest Sh 100,000,” he added.
The court will make its ruling on bail on 15th February.
