Hesbon Onyango Nyamweya, currently serving time at Kamiti Maximum Prison, has been charged in a Nairobi court for allegedly defrauding businesswoman Purity Karambu Laird of Sh 7.6 million.
Nyamweya, along with his mother, Pamela Akinyi Wara, appeared before Milimani Chief Magistrate Susan Shitubi on Tuesday, where they both denied the charges of conspiracy to defraud.
The prosecution claims that Nyamweya orchestrated the scheme while incarcerated, using a mobile phone to communicate with his mother and other accomplices outside.
It is alleged that between May 1 and September 17, 2020, Akinyi received over Sh 7.6 million from Laird, who was misled into believing she was purchasing land.
Court documents detail that Nyamweya acted as an intermediary in the fraudulent transactions, coordinating the operation from one of the country’s most secure facilities.
Akinyi is accused of using the funds to acquire multiple prime properties in Ongata Rongai, Lang’ata, and Migori County, highlighting the scale of the alleged fraud.
Investigations by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) revealed a well-coordinated effort behind the scam. Officers believe Nyamweya’s connections in prison allowed him to orchestrate the fraud, while Akinyi’s elderly status helped them evade immediate suspicion.
Police investigations are ongoing, with officers also seeking Nyamweya’s sisters, who are reportedly on the run after allegedly withdrawing funds from their mother’s accounts to purchase properties linked to the scheme.
During the court session, the charges against both included conspiracy to commit a felony, money laundering, cheating, and stealing.
Akinyi faces additional charges for handling stolen property, with allegations that she retained the Sh 7,656,500, knowing it was obtained through theft.
Despite the serious nature of the allegations, Akinyi claimed ignorance, stating that her son misled her about the funds’ origin.
Chief Magistrate Shitubi acknowledged the gravity of the charges but granted Akinyi bail, setting her bond at Sh 2 million.
Nyamweya, however, was denied bail due to the nature of the charges.
The case is set to be mentioned again on October 2, 2024, as investigations continue into this complex and sophisticated fraud operation.
