Court issues warrant of arrest against former Lamu Senator Annuar Loitiptip in fraud case
A warrant of arrest has been issued against former Lamu Senator Anwar Loitiptip after he failed to turn up in court for the hearing of a Sh6 million motor vehicle fraud case against him.
Milimani senior principal magistrate Wandia Nyamu issued the warrant upon application by the prosecution.
“This case was listed for hearing and the accused has not turned up. I apply for a warrant of his arrest,” a state prosecutor urged.
The magistrate allowed the plea by the prosecution and ordered for the arrest of the accused.
“The application by the prosecution is hereby allowed. Police to execute the warrant and return it on April 18, 2024, duly acted upon,” ruled Ms Nyamu.
Mr Loitiptip was arraigned on November 16, 2023, before Milimani senior principal magistrate Gilbert Shikwe where he denied three counts filed against him by the prosecution.
He hinted at a possibility of settling the matter out of court since,“ he sold the high-end vehicle to bail himself out of a financial quagmire during the campaign time last year.”
In the first count, Anwar was accused that on August 3, 2022 at an unknown place within the country, without lawful authority or excuse made a motor vehicle registration certificate purporting to be a genuine certificate issued by National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA).
He faced another count of fraudulently uttering to Samson Malonza a forged motor vehicle certificate for motor vehicle registration number KDA 005C.
The court heard Loitiptip fraudulently obtained from Samson Malonza a total sum of Sh6 million by falsely pretending he was in a position to sell to him a Toyota Land Cruiser V8 a fact he knew to be false.
He is alleged to have committed the offence on August 3, 2022, in Kileleshwa, a Nairobi suburb.
He denied the charges before Milimani senior principal magistrate Gilbert Shikwe.
He applied to be freed on reasonable bond terms saying the case arose, “out of the genuine transaction as l was raising money for my campaigns although I eventually lost the senatorial seat.”
He added that he is in dire of money and that he is almost bankrupt.
Urging the court to be lenient while imposing bail terms the politician said he has a condition that warranted close medical attention.
“I plead with you your honour to consider releasing me on lenient bail terms. I lost the elections and I have run out of money. l opted to sell my vehicle worth Sh12m to raise campaign money. I sold it at a throwaway price of Sh 6m,” he pleaded.
State prosecutor Ms Judy Koech did not oppose the bail plea and he was freed on a cash bail of Sh700,000 with an alternative bond of Sh 1m.
Incidentally, Mr Annuar was brought before Shikwe on a warrant of arrest.
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