A Nigerian national is accused of using deceptive tactics to obtain Ksh300,000 from a city businesswoman while feigning the ability to triple the amount.
Mr Kennedy Atinse defrauded Ms Esther Wanjiku Kamau on March 3 of this year in Kasarani, Nairobi. In addition, Mr Atinse is accused of conspiring with those still at large to defraud Ms Kamau of the money in violation of Section 393 of the Penal Code. The defendant was also charged with entering Kenya against the law.
When he appeared before Principal Magistrate Monica Kivuti of the Makadara Law Courts, Mr Atinse confirmed that he was in Kenya unlawfully but denied cheating Ms Kamau.
Her brother informed Ms Kamau that Mr Atinse intended to introduce them to a successful business that entailed multiplying money. She was guided through the process when they met.
After that, they booked a home where they would conduct business. Ms Kamau showed up with Sh300,000, hoping she would leave with quadruple that amount.
Mr Atinse promised to provide her with Sh900,000 and assured her that she would make a profit of Sh600,000 within a day.
The following day when she returned to the apartment, she saw Mr Atinse take something that appeared to be money from a refrigerator and mix it with some chemicals to turn it red.
The defendant informed her that there was an issue and gave her the excuse to leave so he could see a lab technician to find out why the cash had turned red.
Later, Ms Kamau discovered Mr Atinse had taken her money and fled.
When she phoned him two days later to inquire about the money, he informed her that more than Sh180,000 would be required to clean up the funds.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations took up the investigation after she reported the incident to the Kasarani police station.
Mr Atinse will remain in custody until April 20. After that, the court will schedule hearings for the allegations he disputed, and he will get a sentence for being in Kenya without authorization.
