Alleged gold scammer Jared Otieno was Monday granted bail in a case where he is accused of fraudulently receiving Sh300 million in a fake gold transaction.
The court released the controversial businessman on a cash bail of Ksh.1.5 million or Ksh.2 million bond. Jared Otieno and 15 other suspects last week denied charges of conspiracy to defraud, obtaining money by false pretences and preparing to commit a felony.
Two of Jared Otieno’s co-accused were ordered to deposit Sh1 million cash bail each or a bond of similar amount with one contact person. They are foreigners Abouma Tamoua and Albert Likole Lokunda.
Another two – Ricky Thomas Ochieng’ alias Tom Okoth and Juliet Kathambi Kithinji- who are students, were released on a cash bail of Sh300,000. The rest were granted Ksh.500,000 cash bail.
The Court further ordered the accused to deposit their passports in court and to be reporting to the investigating officers once in every two weeks. Failure to do this and their bond or bail will be canceled.
The court heard that on diverse dates between February 8 and February 25, 2019 at Kaputei Gardens, Jared Otieno together with Mr Philip Nashon Aroko, Mr Robert Ouko Owiti and Mr Ochieng, with intent to defraud obtained from Sounthorn Chanthavong, a director of Simoung Group Company US $ 3 million (about Sh300 million).
Other suspects include Peter Omondi, Michael Ochieng, Paul Otieno, Alice Nzisa, Joyce Akinyi and Julie Kathambi as well as Seinim Boukar, Abuona Tamoua and Albert Lokunda Likole.
According to the charge sheet, the suspects used fraudulent tricks including displaying heavy metal boxes allegedly parked with fake gold bars to defraud their victim.
The case will be mentioned on June 10 while the hearing will start on July 2.
