A businessman, Ronald Osonga Khejeri, has been charged in a Nairobi court for allegedly defrauding foreign investor Tanner Caldwell Cook of more than Sh179 million in a fraudulent gold sale scheme.
Appearing before Milimani Chief Magistrate Lucas Onyina Khejeri denied two criminal charges: conspiracy to commit a felony and obtaining money by false pretenses.
The charges stem from an elaborate scam in which Khejeri, together with other accomplices already before the court, falsely promised to facilitate the sale of 3,370 kilograms of gold, purportedly worth 1,388,262.76 US dollars (approximately Sh179,641,201), to Cook.
According to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), the offences took place between March 31 and May 30, 2024, within Nairobi County.
Khejeri and his co-conspirators are accused of deceiving Cook into believing that the gold deal was legitimate, despite knowing that the offer was entirely fabricated.
The accused also faces a charge of obtaining 1,388,262.76 US dollars from Cook under the same false pretense.
The investor transferred the significant sum in hopes of securing the deal, only to later discover that he had been duped.
After the charges were read, Khejeri’s defense lawyer requested his release on bail, assuring the court that his client was willing to comply with any conditions, and refraining from interfering with prosecution witnesses.
However, the prosecution opposed his release on bail but argued that Khejeri’s case will be combined with another involving his co-accused, Sergio Patrick Antonucci, a U.S. national. Antonucci is also facing charges related to the fraudulent gold sale.
The magistrate has set the next mention for March 12, 2025, to allow for the consolidation of the two cases.
