Kamiti convict, his mother charged over Sh7.6mn fraud

Kamiti Maximum Prison's entrance. [Elvis Ogina, Standard]

Hesbon Onyango Nyamweya, currently serving a sentence at Kamiti Maximum Prison, has been charged in a Nairobi court for his alleged role in defrauding a city businesswoman of Sh7.6 million.

Nyamweya, alongside his mother, Pamela Akinyi Wara, appeared before Milimani Chief Magistrate Susan Shitubi on Tuesday, where both denied the charges of conspiracy to defraud Purity Karambu Laird of Sh7,656,500.

According to the prosecution, the fraud was orchestrated while Nyamweya was incarcerated, where he claimed he could sell land to Laird. 

Despite being behind bars, Nyamweya reportedly coordinated the scam using a mobile phone, leveraging his prison network to communicate with his mother and accomplices outside.

The prosecution alleges that between May 1 and September 17, 2020, Akinyi received over Sh7.6 million from Laird, who was misled into believing she was purchasing land.

The court documents indicate that Nyamweya conspired with her mother and others not present in court, effectively acting as an intermediary in the scheme.

In a series of transactions, the money was transferred from Laird to Akinyi, who then allegedly used the funds to acquire multiple prime properties in various locations, including Ongata Rongai, Lang'ata, and Migori County.

These properties, reportedly worth millions of shillings, highlight the scale of the fraud and the sophisticated nature of the operation, which was managed from one of the most secure prison facilities in the country.

Investigations conducted by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Serious Crime Unit revealed a well-coordinated effort behind the fraud.

Officers believe that Nyamweya utilized his prison connections to orchestrate the scam while Akinyi, due to her elderly status, was perceived as an unlikely suspect in such activities.

This perception may have aided their ability to carry out the scheme without immediate detection.

Police investigations suggest that Nyamweya communicated with his mother and others through covert means, facilitating the transactions from within prison walls.

The investigative unit is also on the lookout for Nyamweya's sisters, who are reportedly on the run after allegedly withdrawing funds from their mother’s accounts to purchase the properties in question.

During the court session, Nyamweya and her mother Akinyi faced several charges of conspiracy to commit a felony, money laundering, cheating, and stealing.

Akinyi alone also faced charges of handling stolen property contrary to the Penal Code.

The charge sheet specifies that she dishonestly retained Sh7,656,500, knowing or having reason to believe it was acquired through theft.

Despite these serious allegations, Akinyi claimed she was unaware of the fraudulent nature of the funds, asserting that her son had misled her regarding their source.

Chief Magistrate Susan Shitubi acknowledged the gravity of the charges but granted Akinyi bail, setting a bond of Sh2 million pending trial while Nyamweya was denied bail terms.

The case will be mentioned on October 2, 2024.