US woman accuses Taaj Money Transfer Agent of Sh 29M fraud, writes to DPP Kenya seeking justice

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US businesswoman Rahma Abdullahi Adam. PHOTO/Suek.

An American citizen has written to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Kenya requesting approval of charges against a Taaj Money Transfer agent who allegedly defrauded her Sh 29 million.

Rahma Abdullahi Adam, a New York resident wants the DPP to charge Abdullahi Abdi Hussein, a Taaj Eastleigh Branch manager and alleged shareholder of the company for defrauding her her hard-earned money through non-existent investment opportunities.

Through lawyer Danstan Omari, the complainant stated in the letter that she transacted money through Hussein in 2023 and the deal went smoothly.

It is alleged that Hussein later indicated to her that if she wished to further transact from the USA, she could reach out to him for assistance.

“On 2nd May 2024, he called out client with a proposal to discuss business which revolved around the opening of a new branch by the name “Daimon” to be co-owned with one Bashir and intended that our client buy a 20% stake of the new branch for USD 100,000,” Omari said.

The complainant, who initially only wanted to invest in real estate in Kenya thought the deal buy Hussein was good and decided to divert her funds to the new project.

However, there not being a Taaj branch branch or Hawala she could use in New York, she travelled to Minneapolis on Hussein’s instructions to a Taaj attache’ by the name mohammed.

The mother of four is said to have handed over the USD 100,000 to him and after two days, she was issued with a receipt with the name Rasmi Pay LLC as opposed to Taaj, as per her expectations.

“Upon payment, our client contacted Hussein who confirmed receipt of the money and promised that the business would be ready by end if September 2024,” Omari added.

The excuses

The complainant kept following up with Hussein on why the project had not kicked off by November but he kept making excuses.

Former Taaj Money Transfer agent Abdullahi Abdi Hussein at DCI Kilimani offices at a past date. PHOTO/Courtesy.

In October 2024, Hussein contacted Ms Adam with a request to open a savings account with Taaj for purposes of investing in real estate.

Interested, Hussein told her to make the deposit to Taaj following the same procedure as before in Minneapolis where she handed over a cheque of USD 113,000.

A month later, she called Hussein to inquire the progress of the business but he responded that he had not managed to kick it off because his mother was ailing.

This is when she became suspicious and decided to pull out of Hussein’s deals.

She sent her dad to meet Hussein and collect the USD 213,000.

Former Taaj Money Transfer agent Abdullahi Abdi Hussein at DCI Kilimani offices at a past date.

However, Hussein tried to woo the complainant with another deal using her “Daimon” stake deposit to acquire a 50% stake in the Taaj Eastleigh Branch.

The complainant was adamant about the previous transactions and declined the offer. She told her father to proceed and collect the money from Hussein.

Hussein had agreed to meet Adam’s father to refund the monies before allegedly leaving for India to get his mother medical attention.

However, when Ms Adam’s father met with Hussein, he told him that he did not have even a single cent because the money had allegedly gotten lost in Taajs system.

“Upon further probe, Hussein claimed that the money had been utilized in settling other debts owed to other Taaj customers,” Omari said.

According to him, Hussein promised to work extra hard to refund Ms Adam’s money.

Journey to Kenya

On 31st December 2024, the complainant travelled to Kenya to follow up on the money but based on Abdi’s and Taaj’s fraudulent activities, the Eastleigh branch was shut down and Abdi allegedly fired.

Ms Adam reported the matter at DCI Kilimani police station on 2nd January 2025 and Hussein was arrested on the same day.

Hussein was presented before Kibra Law Courts on 6th January under a miscellaneous application and was released on a cash bail of Sh 100,000 pending conclusion of investigations.

The complainant claims that her efforts to have the matter resolved out of court by elders in her community have been turned into a charade by the suspect’s surety, through insinuations that her quest for justice will not go far.

Ms Adam tells the DPP that in her pursuit for justice, she continues to incur expenses in Nairobi, missing out on work and her children in New York.

She said that her efforts to contact the Taaj Chief Executive Officer to settle the matter have been futile since he denied denied any wrong doing or responsibility over the matter.

“In light of the foregoing, and being that our client strongly believes in the rule of law in this country and hopes to get justice and recover her hard-earned money, we request that you look at the plight of our client with the view to having the charges against the culprit take off and he be charged accordingly. We kindly but urgently seek your indulgence in this matter,” Omari requested.