Seth Steve Okute (right) and Bruno Otieno Olienda (left)-both seated- deny defrauding international businessman Marjorie Grant USDollars 100000 (Sh12.7) pretending they will ship 33kgs of gold from Burkina Faso to Zurich…Photo/Richard Munguti
Two suspected fake gold dealers have been charged with defrauding an American citizen Sh13 million while claiming to be in a position to sell him 33kg of gold.
As Seth Steve Okute and Bruno Otieno Olienda were answering fraud charges, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Noordin Haji recalled a file in which eight suspected accomplices were scheduled to be charged with similar offences.
Ann Munyua, a state prosecutor, urged senior principal magistrate Esther Kimilu to indulge the DPP for 14 days to enable him to reconsider his decision to charge the eight.
“I pray that plea in this matter be deferred to enable the DPP to review his decision to charge the eight suspects,” Ms Munyua urged the magistrate.
Defence lawyer Danstan Omari, Cliff Ombeta and Kenneth Wanyanga applied to have the plea against the eight be deferred too.
“We had written to the DPP to review his position in this matter,” Ombeta told the magistrate.
Those scheduled to benefit from the review are Moses Otieno Oketch, Patroba Odhiambo Tobias, Elisha Mbadi Kimbero, Teddy Samora Kowino, Joannis Kaisarios and Mugabe Patrick.
The magistrate allowed the request by the DPP to refer the matter back.
Ms Kimilu directed the case be mentioned on March 6, 2023 for further directions.
Meanwhile Seth Okute and Bruno Olienda denied defrauding Marjorie Grant US Dollars 100,000 (Sh12.7m) through pretext they were in a position to ship 33 kilogrammes of gold from Burkina Faso to Zurich through Newsky Global Cargo Movers International Limited.
They denied a second count of conspiracy to defraud Marjorie R Grant US Dollars 100,000 through the fake gold deal.
Ms Kimilu freed Bruno and Seth on cash bail of Sh600,000.
The case will be mentioned for pre-trial directions on March 6,2023.
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