An inmate currently serving a life sentence at Kamiti Maximum Security Prison, has returned to court to face fraud charges alongside his mother.
They are accused of defrauding a businesswoman in the city from within the prison, by falsely promising her a parcel of prime land located in Nairobi. READ FULL STORY
Hesbon Onyango Nyamweya has been newly charged with conspiracy to commit theft, in violation of section 313 of the Penal Code.
He is charged together with his mother, Pamela Akinyi Wara, for allegedly conspiring to steal Sh7,656,500 from Purity Karambu.
Both individuals are facing two additional charges of deception, contrary to section 315 of the Penal Code, as they are accused of employing fraudulent methods to obtain money from Karambu.
The alleged offenses took place between May 1 and September 17, 2020, during which they are also accused of defrauding the complainant of Sh91,230.
Furthermore, the mother and son are charged with money laundering, in violation of section 3 (b) (1) as read with section 16 of the Proceeds of Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Act (POCAMLA).
According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Serious Crimes Unit, the two are said to have acquired properties in Migori, Rongai in Kajiado County, and another in Lang’ata, Nairobi.
Nyamweya allegedly utilized mobile phones to orchestrate the crime from his prison cell, where he promised to sell land to the victim while still incarcerated, purportedly in collusion with his mother and others. Karambu was led to believe she was purchasing land.
Several accomplices who remain at large acted as intermediaries in the fraudulent scheme, with Karambu transferring funds to Wara during the execution of the deception.
The estimated value of the properties involved, purportedly worth millions, underscores the extensive nature of the fraud and the sophisticated execution of the operation, which took place within one of the country’s most secure correctional facilities.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) suspects that Nyamweya leveraged his prison connections to orchestrate the scam.
Although his elderly mother appeared to be an unlikely participant in such illicit activities, the primary suspect maintained covert communication with her.
Nyamweya’s sisters, who were also implicated in the crime, remain at large.
This perception may have contributed to their ability to execute the scheme without immediate detection.
Investigations by the police indicate that Nyamweya utilized discreet methods to communicate with his mother and others, facilitating transactions from within the confines of the prison.
Both individuals denied the charges before Chief Magistrate Susan Shitumbi.
Wara asserted that she was unaware of the fraudulent nature of the funds, claiming that her son had deceived her regarding the money’s origin.
Shitumbi granted Wara a bond of Ksh 2 million pending trial, while Nyamweya was returned to prison, where he is serving a life sentence.
