Humprey Mulundi Muthahana and Steve Odhiambo Ochieng have been charged with defrauding Emily Silaton Mututua, the director of Milestone Gemstone Kenya Limited, of Tanzanite minerals worth over Ksh 22 million.
The duo appeared before Milimani Magistrate Carolyne Nyanguthii and denied three charges related to the fraud.
According to the charge sheet, between February 3 and March 5, 2021, the accused conspired to defraud Mututua by falsely pretending they would sell Tanzanite minerals to Dubai, a claim they knew to be untrue.
The total value of the minerals allegedly stolen amounts to USD 203,436 (about Ksh 22,337,273).
In addition, the two are accused of obtaining Tanzanite minerals on two separate occasions one batch weighing 456.8 carats, valued at USD 147,553 (Ksh 16,201,319), and another batch of 230.283 carats, worth USD 71,883 (Ksh 7,892,753)—under false pretenses.
Through their lawyer Denis Seko, the accused requested reasonable bond terms, emphasizing they were not flight risks.
The prosecution did not object to their release on bail.
Magistrate Nyanguthii set the bond at Sh 5 million or a cash bail of Sh 2 million for each of the accused.
The case will be mentioned again on April 17 for a pretrial conference.
