DPP declines to drop fraud charges against for former Java boss

Director of Public Prosecutions Renson Ingonga. [File, Standard]

Director of Public Prosecutions Renson Ingonga has declined to drop the Sh7.9 million fraud charges against former Java Chief Executive Officer Derrick Cornelius Van Houten.

When the matter came up for directions before Milimani Chief Magistrate Lucas Onyina, Ingonga said that he had reviewed the file and found that there was sufficient evidence to warrant the case to proceed to a logical conclusion.

Consequently, Magistrate Onyina declined to withdraw from the matter under section 87 of the Criminal Procedure Code and referred the case to his colleague Gilbert Shikwe for further directions.

In the case, Houten is accused of obtaining Sh7,911,000 by false pretence.

The former Java CEO is accused of fraudulently obtained the said mount from businessman Awil Abdirahman Adulle with the promise of helping him construct a Java Hotel in Narok between 2021 and 2022.

"Derrick Cornelius Van Houten is alleged to have obtained a total of Sh7, 911,000 from Awil Abdirahman Adulle alleging to be in a position to approve and construct a Java Hotel for him in Narok town," stated the prosecution.

Houten is alleged to have committed the offence on diverse dates between October 1, 2021 and January 31, 2022.

Appearing before Shikwe, Housten was ordered to return to court on October 19 for consolidation and hearing. He is out on a cash bail of Sh500,000.