Property manager denies ‘eating’ Sh6.1 million rent proceeds
A property manager has denied ‘eating’ proceeds of rent he collected from tenants residing in houses under his management.
While defending himself before Milimani law courts senior principal magistrate Bernard Ochoi, Peter Gathungu Gikonyo insisted ‘the landlord retained all deposits’ and never returned them to tenants who left his property.
Gikonyo said he forwarded all monies he received in deposits and rent to the landlord.
Gikonyo who will continue defending himself on May 30, 2023, said there are pending cases at the High Court over unpaid rent.
Led by lawyer Sam Nyaberi to defend himself against accusations he stole Sh4,390,560 from Kaggs, owned by Mr Francis Kibatta Kairu, between June 29 and September 1, 2020, Gikonyo denied he ‘ate the monies’.
The accused told Ochoi that, “it is sickening to imagine the person who trusted me with managing his various properties in Nairobi and Kiambu for a long period turned against me accusing me of stealing the money I was collecting and remitting to him religiously”.
Gikonyo told the court there was a sharp discrepancy between the amounts quoted in the charge sheet and those in the property management agreement.
He said the charge sheet quotes a figure of Sh6.1 million while the agreement talks of Sh8,684,000.
“I do not know how the amounts in the agreement were arrived at since I was not involved in the audit that was carried out by Charles Kibanga,” Gikonyo told the magistrate.
Ochoi found Gikonyo with a case to answer and put him on his defence.
The prosecution led by state prosecutor James Gachoka claimed Gikonyo retained monies he received as deposits from tenants during the Covid-19 pandemic period.
Gikonyo was retained by two property owners – Kaggs Investiments Limited and Kethian Investments Limited to manage
seven properties in Nairobi and Kiambu.
Mr Gikonyo, trading as Afriland Agencies, further told the court that he prepared lease agreements that were signed by tenants.
The charge sheet states Gikonyo had been entrusted with the safe custody of the money.
The agent, who is out on a Sh1 million bond, faces another charge of stealing Sh1,743,340 from Keithian.
The hearing continues May 30, 2023.
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