Baracuda Airways boss charged in Sh9.7m jobs scam case
The chief executive of an aviation company and his four employees appeared in court on Monday accused of receiving Sh9.7 million from job seekers.
The four allegedly cheated job seekers that would they be taken for training as pilots and cabin crew in South Africa and Dubai.
Mr Kimeria Boddie Maina, the CEO of Baracuda Airways Holdings Limited, and his two directors, John Odhiambo Majiwa and Elizabeth Wanjiku Kinyanjui, were arraigned before a resident magistrate Ms Tobiko N Sinkiyian.
They were accompanied by their two employees Stellah Ivy Amaya and Barbra Modani Alwena.
The company’s bank accounts have since been frozen.
REMAND
State prosecutor Robert Nyoro urged the magistrate to remand the five at the Pangani flying squad police unit to assist in investigation over reports that they had received millions from unsuspecting job seekers.
“ I urge this court to order these suspects be detained for more investigations to be carried out,” Mr Nyoro stated.
Mr Nyoro told Ms Sinkiyian that police have been given an order to freeze the accounts of the company held at Standard Chartered Bank Limited, Chiromo Branch,
The state prosecutor pleaded with the magistrate to lock up the suspects at Pangani and Muthaiga police stations respectively for five days.
But the chief executive opposed the request saying he was arrested on February 23 and has been in custody all through.
RIGHTS INFRINGED
“ Police should not be allowed to detain me for another five days. My fundamental rights will be infringed blatantly. I will cooperate with them. Release me on bond.” the suspect pleaded.
Ms Sinkiyian released him on a Sh100,000 cash bail and directed the four to be detained until Tuesday when they will appear in court for further directions.
Victims of the fraud turned up in court to follow the proceedings.
