Two Cameroon and Niger nationals Mohammed Sani Alias Dr.Mustafa and Ousman Ibrahim Bako accused of being in possession of 9 papers intended to resemble and pass as US Dollars currency notes and 739,200 papers intended to resemble and pass as Euro currency notes at Milimani law court on January 22, 2016.
BY SAM ALFAN.
Two foreigners has been charged with being in possession of 6.9 papers intended to resemble and pass as US Dollars currency notes and 739,200 papers intended to resemble and pass as Euro currency notes.
Mohammed Sani Alias Dr.Mustafa, a Niger National and Ousman Ibrahim Bako, a Cameroon National appeared before Chief Magistrate Daniel Ogembo and denied the charges.
The two were also charged with being in possession of Instruments of forgery namely; two scanners, two bottles of iodine substance for producing figures and marks used in making US Dollars and Euro currency notes.
The prosecution opposed their release on bail on grounds that there are suspects at large being sought and believed to be within and outside the country.
The prosecution claimed that the accused persons are believed to have committed similar offences in Dubai which are yet to be confirmed through Interpol.The Prosecution claimed that the release of the accused persons may prejudice the investigations which are still underway and they may interfere with the witnesses.
“The accused persons are flight risk who may jump bail and tracing will require international effort,” claimed the Prosecution counsel” said Kadebe.However, the defense counsels Kethi Kilonzo and Steve Kimathi opposed the prosecution application stating that their clients were legally in Kenya and were not a flight risk.
“The passport of the accused persons have been detained by the state and they have fixture bond as they have their families are here in Kenya. There is no evidence that they will interfere with witnesses as claimed by the prosecution,” said Kethi Kilonzo.
The lawyers claimed that the prosecution did not provide compelling reasons for the accused to be denied bail.They said the prosecution had enough time to conclude investigations they had been given seven days by the court to detain the accused persons.
The two were nabbed on Monday at South C where they were able to recover bags full of fake currencies. The two foreigners had earlier conned a man of Sh40 million.
The two men whom they describe as kingpins in a money laundering ring were arrested with $693 million worth of fake money which was stored in a house along Mombasa road.
Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinett said an additional 369 million Euros was also seized during the haul.
The IG says the two Cameroon and Niger nationals were arrested following a tip off from a member of the public and warned anybody dealing in fake currency that their days were numbered.
IG announcement come hours after the two were arraigned in court on Monday and police were allowed to detain them for more days to enable them complete investigations on the matter.
“We came by this huge haul based on a tip-off by a member of the public that an individual had been conned of a Sh40 million purportedly in exchange of US dollars and Euros that had been shipped in from Syria. The subsequent police operation led to the discovery of 693 million dollars in fake currency,” he stated. He further urged Kenyans to be careful of dealers in fake currency who he says have swindled many of their hard earned cash.
“We also discovered 369 million fake Euros and some of it was just plain paper, cleverly bundled up together to appear as if they were genuine currency. We also discovered money printing machines, computers and chemicals, all being materials used to make foreign currencies,” he said.
He lauded the person who provided the tip-off and emphasized the need for everyone to work together in the war against crime.
“In this respect I would like to thank not only the individual who gave us that tip off but also other members of the public who have continued to support us in the war on crime,” he stated.
He explained that following the arrest, a number of complaints have been received regarding such money laundering rings which con people.
“I wish also to inform you that rising out of the activities of these individuals, we have received complaints emanating as far as Comoros that there are in our midst individuals who print fake currencies that are exported beyond our shores and that does not make us look good at all,” he said.
