Nairobi lawyer charged with defrauding client Sh26 million
A Nairobi based lawyer has been charged with defrauding a litigant Sh26million in filing fees of a non-existent case at the Milimani High Court.
David Chege Mboche who was arraigned before senior resident magistrate Ben Mark Ekhubi denied fraudulently obtaining Sh26,075,000 from Ms Marriane Kamau claiming the colossal amount was for conducting a non- existing civil case.
Mboche faced two counts of obtaining money through pretences and conspiracy to defraud.
In the conspiracy indictement, Mboche was accused of conspiring with another person who is yet to be charged to defraud Ms Kamau the said millions pretending he was conducting the civil suit.
The trial magistrate heard Mboche received the money on diverse dates between February 1,2022 and July 30,2023 at an unknown place within the Republic of Kenya.
He allegedly received the money from Ms Kamau, while in the company of another person who has not been arraigned.
The accused applied to be freed on a reasonable bond arguing that “he was an officer of the court by virtue of being an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya.”
Mboche promised to abide with the bond terms that will be imposed by the court adding, he knows the consequences of flouting the release terms.
Ms Kariuki prosecuting did not oppose the bail plea but urged the court to consider the amounts subject of the case which she said is “colossal”
Further the court heard, Mboche, is facing two other pending cases which are similar to the current one of defrauding the litigant.
“I urge this court to pronounce bond terms commensurate with the amounts state in the charge sheet,” Ms Kariuki prayed to the court.
She added the accused allegedly committed the offence while out on bond in two similar cases.
In a brief ruling Mr Ekhubi directed the accused to be remanded at Capital-Hill Police Station to be interviewed by probation officers before a decision is rendered whether to be released on bond or not.
“I call for your pre-bail report before I make a decision whether to free you on bond or not,” Mr Ekhubi directed.
He ordered the pre-bail report to availed in court by August 16,2023.
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