NTSA implicated in alleged car theft, logbook fraud claims
The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) is on the spot over an alleged car theft and logbook fraud involving an insurance agent and her husband.
In court documents, NTSA is accused of aiding an insurance agent, Dorcas Ayoo Oloo and her husband Perminus Gwaro to fraudulently acquire Joseph Kipkurui Towett’s car four years ago.
In 2017, Towett gave his vehicle documents to Ayoo to renew the insurance cover.
However, Gwaro allegedly substituted Towett’s mobile phone number on the NTSA’s Transport Integrated Management System (Tims) with his and registered the car ownership in Ayoo’s name.
The alteration of contact details locked Towett out of getting any update on transactions concerning the vehicle.
The legal dispute that is ongoing at both the criminal and civil courts in Milimani, Nairobi, has also entangled a microfinance bank where Ayoo obtained a loan using the forged logbook.
Ayoo is said to have obtained a Sh400,000 loan from Milhan Access Capital Limited using a forged logbook but defaulted in repayment.
Towett learnt about the alleged fraud in March 2018 after auctioneers confronted him and impounded his car in Nairobi city centre, intending to repossess it because of the defaulted loan.
The auctioneers alarmed Towett since he had neither borrowed money from the microfinance institution, nor had he guaranteed anyone using the car’s logbook.
Upon checking the NTSA system, Towett discovered that he was no longer the registered owner of the vehicle as the logbook was in Ayoo’s name.
The court documents indicated that the logbook was later registered in the name of the microfinance bank.
“He drove the car to Central Police Station, reported the fraudulent transfer and started the legal proceedings. The advocates added that there is no sale agreement or transfer documents duly executed by Towett permitting the transfer of the motor vehicle,” said Towett’s lawyers in court documents.
“In an effort to resolve the dispute, he called the couple and informed them about the fraud. Gwaro then accompanied him to the microfinance bank’s office where he was made to execute two letters as well as a purported guarantee for the repayment of the loan within two months. But the couple negated the promise to pay the loan,” they added.
As further proof of the fraud perpetrated against Towett, Ayoo and Gwaro sold his other motor vehicle which he had delivered to Ayoo to perform car hire services.
The vehicle was sold directly to one Peter Kimara and registered in the name of the said Kimara on May 22, 2017.
Ayoo and Gwaro are jointly fighting criminal charges related to fraud and forgery of a logbook and purporting to be the owner of the car.
While Ayoo is separately facing charges of uttering a false document with the intent to defraud and obtaining a Sh400,000 loan from Milhan Access Capital Ltd using a forged logbook.
