Former General Manager denies stealing Sh254 million from printing firm

A former general manager of a printing company has been charged with stealing Ksh 254 million from his employer.

Cheekati Narasimha Rao, a former manager of Printing Services Limited, appeared before Milimani Principal Magistrate Caroline Nyaguthii and denied the charges levelled against him.

The prosecution told the court that on diverse dates between January 1, 2016 and August 31, 2024 within Nairobi City County jointly with others who were not in court being a servant of the said company stole Ksh 254,461,768 the property of Printing Services Limited.

The court heard that the money came into his possession by virtue of his employment.

He was further charged with forging the signature of Indian-Kenyan author and publisher Malkiat Singh Dhillon in an attempt to falsely promote himself as a managing director of the company.

According to the prosecution, he committed the alleged offence on April 1, 2010, at an unknown place within Kenya.

He is accused of forging Malkiat Singh’s signature on an appointment letter that falsely promoted him to the position of a managing director in the company.

The letter was purported to have been signed by Dhillon who is the Managing Director of the company.

The defence lawyer prayed the court to release the accused on lenient bond terms citing that he has been out on cash bail of Ksh 200,000 and urged the court to apply the same.

“Your honour my client is not a flight risk and he has been appearing in this court without failure. I pray for lenient bond terms urging you to apply the previous terms set by this court,” he submitted.

State prosecutor Judy Koech told the court to review the terms that were set earlier by the citing that Rao was charged with one count of forgery and the charge sheet has been updated with another count of stealing,

“Your honour I urge you to review the terms that were set earlier by this court considering the accused had only one count of forgery and now another count has been preferred,” Koech said.

The company’s lawyer Kimani Wachira indicated that the accused had earlier tried three times to leave the court’s jurisdiction and the same should be also considered while granting bail.

In her brief ruling, the magistrate considered the submissions by the prosecution and the defence noting that the accused had been charged before the court with one count of forgery where he was released on cash bail.
“I have perused the file and noted the accused person was charged in December last year with forgery and was released on cash bail of Ksh 200,000,” said Nyaguthii.

Considering the amendment of the charges, the magistrate indicated that there is need to review the terms which were set earlier by the court.

“The court will set new bond terms since there is an additional charge of stealing by servant and the amount involved is colossal. The accused is hereby granted a bond of Ksh 10 million with a surety of similar amount or alternative cash bail of Ksh 3 million with two Kenyan contact persons,” she ruled.

The magistrate further ordered his passport to remain in the custody of the court.

The matter will be mentioned on March 12.

Rao was charged in December last year with the offence of forgery where the trial court released him on bond of Ksh 500,000 or alternative cash bail of Ksh 200,000.

The court also ordered him to deposit his travel documents in court.