BY NT CORRESPONDENT.
A Nairobi court has released a congolese and two businessmen facing charges of defrauding a foreigner of Sh64 million in gold scam has been released on bail.
Milimani Chief Magistrate Susan Shutubi released Patrick Ngare Muchina, Kelvin Mwaura Ngotho and Congolese Muke Wa Mansoni Didier on a bond of Sh3 million or Sh1 million cash bail.
The duo had earlier appeared before Milimani Chief Magistrate Lukas Onyina and denied defrauding Iraniy Sadegh Sadeghian Abolfa of the money.
The charges against the trio stated that they committed the offence on diverse dates between April 2021 and 14th April 2023 at Kilimani area in Nairobi.
It is alleged that they conspired to obtain USD 500,000 (an equivalent of about Sh64 million) from Sadegh.
The court heard that they obtained the money by falsely pretending they would sell 60 kg of gold to Sadegh.
According to Directorate of Criminal Investigations,Sadegh was then introduced to three companies that would allegedly actualize the transaction.
They included Newline Logistics Limited headed by a CEO only know as Mark together with his partner Calvin Ngotho whose real name was later discovered to be Kelvin Mwaura Ngotho.
The other two were Oriex International Cargo Freight and Royal Ultra Vault Limited. However, Sadegh became suspicious that all was not well after failed delivery of the consignment on the agreed upon date,before he rushed to detectives for assistance.
This led to the arrest of the three suspects, recovery of a Steyr pistol and 103 rounds of 9mm ammunitions, a firearm certificate and Sh600,000 in cash.Also recovered was a Thermo Scientific precious metal analyser, Motor vehicle plates KDH 317L & KDH 592Q and assorted cheque books.
Fake gold bars made from crushed padlocks powder were also recovered from the scammers.
