A Nairobi court has directed three directors of Kisumu United Millers to individually appear for the hearing case of Sh79 million sugar deal.
Sunil Narshi Shah, Kamal Narshi Punja Shah and Magnesh Kumar Verma are accused of conspiring with intent to defraud B N Kotecha and Sons Limited Sh 79.4 million in sugar business on 2nd April 2015 at an unknown place within the Republic of Kenya.
State Prosecutor Evelyne urged the court to direct the directors to appear in person for the trial case which is set to begin on September.
“I urge this court to order the accused to attend court in person. We have lined up 13 witnesses to testify in this case,” she said.
Also charged against the three Onunga directors is the company’s general manager Henry Kavita who pleaded to the charges in late April and was released on bail pending the hearing and determination of the case.
The four allegedly pretended they had lost business as United Millers Limited to their clients by failure to supply sugar.
Kavita is separately charged with forging a local purchase order for Alysam Stores on 5th April 2015 purporting to be genuine.
In the case, United Millers directors were sued B N Kotecha & Sons, Hemal Kishor Kotecha and Harshil Kishore Kotecha.
The four allegedly pretended they had lost business as United Millers Limited to their clients by failure to supply sugar.
They were also charged with defeating the course of justice by filing a case at the High Court in Kisumu allegedly using falsified documents.
Magistrate Andayi ordered each of them to be released on Sh1 million bond or cash bail of Sh400,000 pending the mention for pre-trial on May 24, 2021.
He also directed them not to leave the jurisdiction of the court without court permission.
Further, the accused were ordered to deposit their traveling documents with the court until further notice.
Senior state counsel Angela Fuchaka informed the court that they were not opposed to accused persons being released on bond.
Senior State prosecutor Everlyn Onunga urged the court to issue a warrant of arrest against the accused who were granted a police bond last year.
She had told the court that Sunil, Kamal, and Magnesh were earlier freed on 70,000 police bond by the police boss at Muthaiga station.
However, Andayi declined to issue a warrant of arrest against the three.
Andayi also ordered the defence lawyer to produce medical records of the suspects.
The defence lawyer said he will keep the court posted on the status of his clients and promised to produce relevant information to the court and prosecution.