BY SAM ALFAN.
A Politician and businessman have been charged with obtaining Sh12.7 million in a gold scam.
Seth Steve Okute who contested the Karachuonyo parliamentary seat Member on an ODM ticket and Bruno Otieno Olienda appeared before Milimani Senior Principal Magistrate Esther Kimilu and denied the charges.
Ukute and Olienda are accused of obtaining USD100,000, which is equivalent to Sh12.7 million from Marjorie R Grant.
The court heard that they committed the offence on November 9, 2022 at I&M Bank within Nairobi County with intent to defraud.
They obtained the millions by falsely pretending that Newsky’s Global Cargo Movers International ltd were in a position to pay custom duties for 33 kilograms of gold shipped from Burkina Faso a fact they knew to be false.
Okute and Otieno Olienda are also charged with conspiracy to obtain Sh12,7 million from Marjorie by falsely pretending they were in position to pay custom duties for 33 kilograms of gold shipped from Burkina Faso to Zurich a fact they knew was false.
They were released on a bond of Sh2million or alternative cash bail of Sh600,000 each and two contact person.
Bruno made an application for the police to release his three phones and his Mercedes Benz, which were seized arguing that they are not part of the case.
