BY PHOEBE WANJOHI.
Two businessmen have been charged with conspiracy to defraud in a Sh2 million land scam in an advertisement placed in a local newspaper.
Joseph Gikonyo Thuo and Morris Mbuchu Gikonyo appeared before Milimani Senior Resident Magistrate David Ndungi and denied the charges.
The two are accused that with intent to defraud Mary Waithera and Jane Wairimu Njogu, they obtaining Sh2.25 million from the two women by falsely pretending that they were in a position to sell to them a three-acre parcel of land on behalf of Thuo Inv. Co. ltd.
The court heard that they placed an advertisement claiming to be carrying out legal business of selling land at Countryside Coffee Gardens located in Thika (Land LR No. Block 1/6428), within Kabati area.
It is alleged that they committed the offence on diverse dates between May 2011 and May 2012. Thuo and Gikonyo are facing other charges of making false allotment letters for the said piece of land.
Further, Thuo and his other company, Thuo Company Limited are charged with obtaining Sh750,000 from Anthony Munyiri Kihara by falsely pretending that he was in a position to sell to him one acre of the above mentioned piece of land, a fact he knew to be false.
Thuo is also charged with making more fake allotment letters for the said property and purporting them to be genuine and signed by two directors of Thuo Inv. Co. Ltd.
They were released on a cash bail of Sh50,000 each.
