A Nairobi businesswoman has been charged with money laundering in an attempt to conceal proceeds of crime.
Mercy Wangari Wachiuri, 41, is accused of entering into an agreement to conceal Sh 3,450,000 obtained by false pretences from Grace Njeri Irungu by purchasing and acquiring an orange Ford Ranger.
Wachiuri is alleged to have committed the offense between 14th May and unknown date in August 2025, in Nairobi, jointly with others before court.
In another count, the accused person is charged with acquisition of proceeds of crime by acquiring the said vehicle which she knew or ought to have reasonably known to be proceeds of crime.
Further, Wachiuri is charged with money laundering, having acquired the said Ford Ranger, which she knew was proceeds of crime in an attempt to conceal the true ownership of the said motor vehicle, transferred it to herself from Joseph Wambugu Wachiuri.
The prosecution opposed the release of accused person on bail on grounds that she is a flight risk since she had declined to honour summons issued to her by the investigating officer in September 2025.
“This has shown that she has disregard of the legal process,” the prosecutor said.
In addition, the court heard that the suspect should remain in custody since she might interfere with witnesses and exhibits in the matter.
However, the accused person, through her lawyers, opposed the application to deny her bail on grounds that she is not a flight risk.
The court heard that she is a lactating mother eith a permanent place of abode and considering the fact that she was arrested at a law firm in Westlands, Nairobi, where she works.
The defense also submitted that there was no proof that the investigating officer had made any efforts to establish her whereabouts nor proof of service of the summons.
In addition, the court heard that the only exhibit in the matter (the said vehicle) is already in the custody of the DCI hence impossible for her to interfere with it.