Drama in court as witness contradicts self in Sh51million Visa fraud case

A prosecution witness in an ongoing Sh51 million alleged visa fraud case faced intense cross-examination in court, struggling to provide clear answers on key issues including financial records, company operations and personal details.

The case centres on Brian Obare, who is accused of orchestrating a scheme that allegedly collected millions of shillings from hundreds of Kenyans with promises of securing Canadian visas through a firm linked to Golden Key Travel Consultants.

During the hearing, the defence sharply questioned the complainant, Bonventure Aradi, over the lack of audited financial records to account for funds reportedly collected from applicants.

The charge sheet indicates that more than Sh51 million was received, but the witness admitted that no audit accounts had been presented in court.

“Have you produced audit accounts on how much was given?” the defence lawyer asked, prompting the witness to concede that such documentation was unavailable.

The court heard that over 600 visa applications were processed under the arrangement, with only about 40 reportedly successful.

However, the defence pointed to inconsistencies in testimony, noting that another prosecution witness had earlier claimed that none of the applications succeeded.

Further scrutiny emerged over proof of individual payments, with the defence demanding acknowledgment records for clients said to have paid up to Sh150,000 each.

The witness told the court that a key record book containing client details and financial entries had been lost and was incomplete.

Questions were also raised about how client funds were handled, particularly claims that employees collected payments through personal accounts.

The defence argued this raised serious concerns about transparency and accountability.

On the role of Obare, the defence challenged the witness to provide evidence that he was a consular officer linked to the Canadian embassy.

In response, the witness said Obare had presented himself as such during meetings and had communicated with staff in that capacity, though no official documentation was produced to confirm the claim.

The court also heard that some clients, including Nancy and Grace Kwamboka, paid millions of shillings for visa processing, with over Sh15 million reportedly refunded after complaints. The witness, guided by the prosecution, maintained that the case focuses on whether money was obtained under false pretences, adding that transaction records show some refunds were made.

Investigations into the alleged scheme were conducted by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, with the prosecution relying on communication records and witness testimony to support the charges.

However, the cross-examination exposed multiple inconsistencies.

The witness was unable to clearly explain how the funds were lost or provide documentation authorising employees to transact on behalf of the company, instead making general references to employment contracts.

The court also examined records relating to the company, Galden Key Travel Consultants, with the defence highlighting discrepancies in registration timelines. The alleged offences were said to have occurred before the firm was formally registered, a contradiction the witness did not adequately explain.

Confusion further arose over the company’s identity, with documents referring to both “Golden Key” and “Galden Key,” while the witness failed to clarify the differences.

Personal testimony also came under scrutiny. The complainant initially stated he had one wife but later referred to two, prompting the defence to question his credibility.

Throughout the session, the witness appeared uncertain on several aspects, including the number of directors and employees, often providing approximate figures.

The defence repeatedly pointed to contradictions in his statements, casting doubt on the reliability of his testimony as the hearing continues.