Businessman Faces Charges for Ksh7M Scam Against Foreign Investor

A businessman from the city has been accused of defrauding a foreign national out of USD 54,550 (approximately Ksh7.1 million) by falsely claiming he could sell him 15 kilograms of gold.

Abass Badru Omuyoma, also known as Yuri Sande Ismael, appeared before Milimani Senior Principal Magistrate Robison Ondieki, where he pleaded not guilty to the charges brought by the prosecution.

The alleged offense took place on August 11, 2021, in Nairobi County, in collaboration with unidentified accomplices. The magistrate has scheduled the case for hearing on May 13, emphasizing the need for prompt proceedings.

Other scam suspects

In a separate case, three businessmen—Erick Otieno, Alex Stephen Ogolla, and Mofat Gicheru Kamau—were charged with defrauding an Indian national of millions of shillings by falsely promising assistance in securing a tender from the Ministry of ICT.

They are accused of scamming Vijay Virma out of USD 398,000 (around Ksh60 million) by misleading him about a tender for supplying laptops to the Ministry of Information Communication and Digital Economy, knowing their claims were untrue.

They are also charged with making a false document contrary to section 347(a) as read with section 349 of the Penal Code.

It is said that on November 1, 2023, at an unknown place and time within the Republic of Kenya, with the intent to defraud NVT Mobile Telecom and Accessories Trading FZCO company of USD 398,000 (Ksh60 million), they made a false document, namely request for quotation reference number MICT/VOL.1/VACC/2023-1, purporting it to be a genuine and valid document issued by the Ministry of Information Communication and Digital Economy.

The magistrate issued an order compelling the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to release a motor vehicle said to be owned by one of the accused persons, Ogolla.

They are out on a Ksh3 million bond each and a surety of the same amount.

The case will be mentioned on April 29 for further direction.