Ex-NGO Chief Faces Charges for Alleged Sh17M Shop Looting
A former executive of a Non-Governmental Organization has been accused of stealing various goods valued at Sh17 million from a merchant company.
Elius Kemboi Korir, 41, appeared before a Milimani Senior Principal Magistrate Benmark Ekhumbi facing two charges: theft and obtaining goods under pretenses from Kanduyi Investment Limited.
Korir pleaded not guilty to the charges of acquiring goods valued at Sh17,110,000 from Kanduyi Investments Limited between August 11 and September 12, 2022. The charges allege that Korir falsely claimed he could pay for the goods.
The former NGO executive is accused of receiving goods on different dates between August 11 and September 12, 2022, within Nairobi County. He is also accused of stealing the goods over one year and one day.
Korir, who is 41, requested to be released on bond and noted that the complainant had initiated a civil lawsuit in the High Court seeking payment for the same amount stated in the charge sheet.
The magistrate heard that Korir was apprehended while leaving the High Court on Tuesday, where he had been attending a civil case hearing before a Commercial Division judge.
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“The investigating officer filed this case to pressure the accused to pay the amount mentioned in the charge sheet. There is an ongoing civil case regarding this matter at the commerce division of the High Court where Kanduyi is seeking its dues,” stated the lawyer.
The court was informed that the accused had already paid Sh3 million to the company.
His lawyer argued that the police’s decision to charge the accused was a misuse of the legal process since the matter was already being dealt with at the High Court.
The lawyer presented a series of documents related to the High Court case and the correspondence with the complainant regarding the lawsuit.
The accused also provided the magistrate with email exchanges concerning the payments.
“The accused isn’t revealing to the court that the questioned funds were directly deposited into his account,” objected State prosecutor Virginia Kariuki.
In a brief decision, Mr. Ekhubi ordered the accused to be held in custody until a pre-bail report could determine whether he should be released on bond.
The pre-bail report will be submitted to the court on Wednesday, May 8, 2024.
Ex-NGO Chief Faces Charges for Alleged Sh17M Shop Looting