Nairobi News

A university student has been charged with defrauding a businesswoman Sh6.6million by pretending that the money was to finance the supply of herbicides to a flower company.

Ms Charity Wangari Mwangi, a student at Daystar University, was jointly charged alongside businessman Mr John Mwangi Kuiyaki at the Milimani Law Court Nairobi on Friday with obtaining money by false pretences.

Ms Mwangi, 32, had been employed by Ms Joyce Nyaguthii to deliver clothes and other items to her customers.

She allegedly obtained the money on diverse dates between September 20 and December 1, 2016 in Westlands within Nairobi County.

A state prosecutor told the trial magistrate Ms Martha Mutuku that the two obtained the colossal sum from Ms Nyaguthii pretending that the money will finance the supply herbicides to Siani Roses Flower Farm within Kitengela , Kajiado County.

The businesswoman was to make profit from the supply tender.

The two denied the charge.

PLEA FOR BOND

A defence lawyer pleaded with the magistrate to release the two on bond saying; “Wangari is a student who is pursuing her higher education at the Daystar University and will not abscond.”

The lawyer said Ms Wangari will abide with the terms which the court will impose adding, “ a student has limited chances of jumping bail. She is not a flight risk.”

“ I urge this court to consider admitting Ms Wangari on a reasonable cash bail. She will turn up for trial as and when required. She has assured me she will not prejudice her trial by failing to turn up in court to face justice,” the defence lawyer pleaded.

“Do you wish to make any remarks about your release on bond,” Ms Mutuku asked Mr Kuiyaki.

“ No, I leave it to court,” Mr Mutuku responded.

The prosecution did not oppose the bail application.

In her short ruling, Ms Mutuku said bail is a constitutional and fundamental right for every suspect and proceeded to release each of the suspects on a cash bail of Sh200,000.

The case will be tried from March 16, 2017.