One of the 8 suspects implicated in the Sh53 million fake gold scam has been charged in court today.
Samuel Wathika Gathuru appeared before Milimani Senior Principal Magistrate Esther Kimilu and denied 3 counts of conspiracy to defraud and obtaining money by false pretenses.
Plea against the others Moses Otieno Oketch,Patroba Odhiambo Tobias,Elisha Mbadi Kimbero,Teddy Samora Kowino,Joannis Kaisarios and Mugabe Patrick Biriko was deferred to 17th April 2023 following request by ODPP to await a request they made for a review to charge them.
Warrant of arrest against Joannis Kaisarios was issued after he absconded and the cash bail of Sh 100,000 forfeited.
The court was informed that on diverse dates between 23 March 2022 and December 18,2022 in various places within Kenya and outside the jurisdiction, jointly with others not before the court, conspired to defraud USD 434,100 (equivalent to Sh 53,828,400) the property of Ismael Kolawole Adesina.
In the second count, Wathika was charged with obtaining money on similar dates and place from Ismael by pretending that he was in a position to sell and ship 156 kilograms of Gold to Dubai.
A fact he knew to be false.
He was charged in the last count with attempting to obtain money by false pretenses against the law.
Wathika was charged that on February 2,2022 and February 3,2023 at Bravil group limited in Kilimani within Nairobi County, jointly with others not before the court, attempted to obtain from Muthu Siva Sakthi Velu USD 25,000 equivalent to Sh 3,175,000 by falsely pretending that he was in a position to sell and ship 5 Kilograms of Gold knowing it was false.
He denied the charges before Milimani senior principal magistrate Esther Kimilu.
The accused was released on Sh 300,000 cash bail.’
The matter will be mentioned on April 17,2023 where his co-accused are expected to be charged.
Wathika took plea because he had not asked for a review of his file as his co-accused.
