Prominent businessman Chrisantus Philip Okeyo Obure, commonly known as Chris Obure, has urged the court to acquit him of criminal charges related to an alleged six-year scheme to defraud a company of prime property in Kilimani.
Appearing before Milimani Magistrate Peter Mutai, Obure contended that the prosecution had failed to present compelling evidence through its five witnesses to establish a case against him.
His defense team argued that the state had not established a prima facie case to warrant his defense on charges of fraud and forgery.
Obure stated that investigators from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) had not provided any documents to substantiate claims of forgery, as indicated in the charge sheet.
He further stated that the investigators did not consult with the bank to verify how the transactions were conducted.
Obure presented several documents to the court, including letters of agreement from the sellers, who are primarily of Asian origin, demonstrating the legitimate purchase of the property.
The charges against Obure include conspiracy to commit a felony, forgery, and uttering a forged document.
The prosecution alleges that between June 12, 2017, and October 9, 2023, Obure, along with accomplices not present in court, conspired to forge a Binding Board Resolution from AC and Others Company Limited.
During this period, he is accused of forging a Binding Board Resolution purporting it to have been signed and stamped by Chandul Shah, a director of AC and Others Ltd.
Additionally, on February 10, 2024, at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Headquarters in Nairobi, Obure allegedly uttered a forged Binding Board Resolution, falsely purporting it to have been signed and stamped by Chandul Shah.
Obure is also charged with giving false information to police officer Geoffrey Ndatho at the DCI headquarters, falsely claiming that the resolution confirmed an agreement for the sale of Senteu Plaza, a prime property located at LR No. 1/1373, which was later determined to be a fraudulent transaction.
Obure has denied all the charges in court. His defense lawyer, Patrick Lumumba, requested a lenient bond, emphasizing that bond is a constitutional right designed to ensure the accused’s appearance in court.
Obure is currently out on a bond of Ksh 500,000 with a surety of a similar amount or an alternative cash bail of Ksh 200,000.
In addition to the fraud charges, Obure is currently facing murder charges in the High Court over the alleged death of city car dealer Kelvin Omwenga.
He was charged following his arrest on August 21, 2020, after Omwenga was murdered in his house at Galana Suites in Kilimani, Nairobi.
