David Ochanda Onyango and Ronald Osonga Khejeri among Five Gold suspects charged with Sh 179Million fraud.
Together with Erick Kalala Mukendi, Emmanuel Wafula Othatcher and Willy Kiplimo Meto, the accused denied the charges read to them in a consolidated charge sheet.
Charged together with them are UNAIDISA SERVICES LIMITED and INDIPTH MINING LIMITED companies.
The court was informed that on diverse dates between March 31, 2024 and May30, 2024 at Nairobi City County within the country, jointly with others not before the court conspired to commit a misdemeanor which is obtaining money, a sum of 1,388,262.72 USD from TANNER CALDWELL COOK by falsely pretending that they were in a position to facilitate the sale of 3370 kgs of Gold to the said TANNER CALDWELL COOK knowing it was untrue.
The accused were also charged with obtaining money by false pretenses contrary to Section 313 of the penal code.
The court was informed that on Similar dates and places, they stole the said money.
According to the DCI report,the elaborate scheme dates back to April 3, 2024, when the unsuspecting investor jetted into the country to finalize a deal involving the purchase of 3,370 kilograms of gold.
Upon arrival, he was ushered into an office at Gate 53, Chalbi Drive in Lavington, Nairobi, where he signed a Sales and Purchase Agreement.
The investor even witnessed a smelting process at the seller’s agent’s office, an act meant to reinforce the illusion of legitimacy.
On April 25, 2024, the agent introduced the investor to Toureg Insurance Brokers Limited, allegedly tasked with insuring the gold during transit, whose contact person was David Onyango Ochanda. An addendum to the original agreement was signed to include insurance charges, and an invoice was issued for USD 226,012.76.
Four days later, the investor wired USD 225,968.64 to the company’s bank account. The gold, however, never arrived.
