Nairobi News

An Information Technology specialist has been charged with stealing over Sh21 million from two banks.

Mr Hiram Kiragu Mbuthia, who is also a director Gama Solutions Enterprises Limited, denied four counts of stealing from the Housing Finance Company of Kenya (HFCK) and the Diamond Trust Bank (DTB).

In the first case Mr Mbuthia was accused of stealing Sh7,525,000 on January 20, 2015, while the second count stated that he stole Sh9,525,000 the following day.

He also faced a third indictment of conspiring to steal Sh17,050,000 from HFCK jointly with others.

He denied the charges.

In the DTB case Mr Mbuthia was accused of stealing Sh4,434,000 on diverse dates between January 14-30, 2014. He pleaded not guilty.

A prosecution counsel Mr Kennedy Panyako informed Nairobi Milimani Court Chief magistrate Mr Daniel Ogembo that in the HFCK case, the trial of Mr Mbuthia will be consolidated with a case in which a businesslady Ms Margaret Nyathiru Ndung’u alias Ruth Nyambura Green has already pleaded.

“This case will be heard together with another in which Ms Ndug’u has been charged with stealing. I urge the court to set similar terms of bond and list this case for hearing same day as that of Ms Ndung’u,” Mr Panyako submitted.

He said in the case against the first suspect the court released her on a cash bail of Sh500,000 with an alternative bond of Sh2million with one surety.

Mr Ogembo heard the case has been allocated a trial date in October 27,2015.

In the DTB case, Mr Panyako said the case will be heard alongside another involving John Kamama, Mike Muthangi Kasingi, Stephen Wachira Kimani, Dickens Lawrence Juma abd Silas Musila Musyoka.

“In this case the suspects arraigned earlier were admitted on a cash bail of Sh300,000 then set for hearing October 6,7, 2015.

Two defence lawyers Daniel Bosire and John Ngaira applied for the release of the suspect on bond saying “ he is not a flight risk.”

The magistrate directed the accused to deposit a cash bail similar to the one against the five.