BY IRENE ONYANGO.
Thirty-one people facing charges of gold fraud have been released on bail.
Senior Principal Magistrate Dolphina Alego released the suspects including Leonard Ouma Ochuro, Brian Onyango and Fred Onyango Amollo, on bail of Sh5 million each, after they denied the charges.
The accused persons are alleged to have obtained over Sh7 million from Sonali Purbia Malviya and Mohame Adel by falsely pretending that they were in a position to sell them 35 kgs of Gold.
The charge sheet stated that they conspired to defraud Integrous Gold and Diamond Trading LLC, of the money an offence they allegedly committed on diverse dates between 24th August and 19th October.
Others accussed persons are Josephine Okong’o Aoko, Mercy Atieno Amollo, Brenda Nekesa, Mercy Awuor Akira, Brian Ochieng Onyango, Felix Odhiambo Otieno, Victor Keya Oluoch and Thomas Ogendo Ondiek.
Others are Oscar Abok Ochieng, Briason Madoya Liaga,Bernard Oluoch Okoth, Dickson Otieno Juma, Kennedy Otieno Otondi, Dilip Otieno Hongo, Leonard Ouma Ochuro,Tilen Philip Akello, Bill Clinton, Fred Onyango Amollo, Don Steve Okoth, Jared Polo Aunga, Brian Onyango, Derrick Odhiambo Amollo and Jared Polo Aunga.
They were also charged alongside Brian Onyango, Derrick Odhiambo Amollo, Jared Nyangkira Ogallo, Lillian Mwai, Robert Ouko Okombo, Kelvin Abok Adero, Evans Otieno Aloyo, Evans Okoth, Jim Odera, Dolphine Onyango Achieng and John Ndolo Ngugi.
Aoko, Atieno Omollo, Nekesa, Akira, Ochieng Onyango, Odhiambo Otieno, Oluoch, Ogendo Ondiek, Abok, Liaga, Oluoch Okoth and Otieno Juma are facing additional charge of being in possession of papers intended to resemble and pass as $2,500.
The fake currency was in 25, 100 denominations bearing the same serial number HF90631 1 1 9E.
According to the police report in court, the 31 individuals lured two foreigners into the country on 4th September alleging that they were in a position to aid in purchasing 35 kilograms of gold.
The investigating officer told the court that some of the suspects have been rampant in the gold scamming business and face several fraud charges in court.
The court also issued orders releasing those that were accused of having fake dollars on a bond of Sh100,000 or an alternative cash bail of Sh 50,000 each.
The matter will be mentioned on 27th November pending pretrial.
