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Two alleged gold scammers charged with obtaining Sh159 million from US businessman

Two men alleged to be involved in fake gold scam were charged in a Milimani court with obtaining Ksh 159 million by false pretenses.
Emmanuel Wafula Othatcher and Willy Kiplimo Meto were charged before the Milimani Chief magistrate Lucas Onyina with the offences of conspiracy to commit a felony and obtaining the money on diverse dates between March 31 and May 30, 2024 at Nairobi City County jointly with others who were not present in court.
Through their companies Unaidisa Services Limited and Indepth Mining Limited, the two together with others already in court, are alleged to have conspired to steal US$ 1,271,200 from US businessman Tanner Caldwell Cook by claiming to be in a position to facilitate the sale of 2,820 kilogrammes of gold.
They faced another charge of obtaining the said money which is equivalent to Ksh 159,275,092.
They denied the charges when they were arraigned.
Though the prosecution did not oppose their release on bail, it prayed that they be granted terms that are commensurate the amount indicated on the charge sheet.
“Your honour we do not oppose the accused persons to be freed on bond but we pray for stringent terms that commensurate the amount lost,” submitted the state prosecutor.
The defence lawyer pleaded with the court not to be convinced by the figures on the charge sheet and grant them lenient bond terms citing that the duo are Kenyans and their places of abode is known,
“Your honour I pray you release the accused persons on lenient bond terms since they are committed to adhere to the rules to be set by this court,” he submitted.
Onyina released each of them on bond of Ksh 2 million with a surety of similar amount without an option of a cash bail.
Last month, a US national Sergio Patrick Antonucci was charged with conning Cook of US$1,271,200.74 (kSH 674 million) under the same pretense.
Milimani Chief Magistrate Susan Shitubi granted Antonucci a Ksh 10 million bond with a surety of a similar amount
The case will be mentioned on January 23, 2025, for pretrial directions.