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A complainant testifying virtually from Italy on Thursday told a Nairobi court how he was duped into a fraudulent gold deal involving a purported 150-kilogram gold consignment.
Dr .Satninder Singh said the suspects showed him certificates of ownership dated April 9, 2024, and a mineral export permit allegedly issued by the Mining Department on February 9, bearing his name and passport number. Although the men declined to hand him the documents, he managed to take photographs of them.
At Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), the complainant recounted, he was instructed to check in, proceed to the lounge, and wait for the supposed exporters.
βWe waited, but as departure time neared, they told us they were trying to sort out some issue,β he testified.
According to him, the men later claimed the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) had imposed a penalty of USD 1.62 million, and warned that unless it was paid within seven days, the gold would be confiscated.
He was told that once payment was made, the consignment would be cleared and exported within three days.
Despite expressing doubts, he said he was persuaded by one of the accused, identified as Frank, who assured him he would βtake responsibility.β A contract dated April 20 was later produced and sent to a lawyer named Mosota Associates and advocate for finalization.
The complainant testified that he insisted on seeing the original customs documents and direct communication from KRA regarding the alleged penalty. He was later taken to Forodha House, where he was introduced to a woman identified as Susan Oketch, allegedly a senior customs officer.
βShe had my file. Both Ogot and Kateti were there. The office was on the ground floor, and this Susan Oketch verified everything the gentlemen had told me, including the purported original documents,β he said. He later discovered that the woman was not, in fact, Oketch as she had identified herself.
On March 8, he wired over β¬256,000 and presented proof of payment at Mosota Associates Advocates. He testified that additional transfers were madeβincluding β¬13,000 and others amounting to more than β¬1 million (nearly Ksh. 150,380,000) in total.
The court heard that despite the payments, the documents provided by the accused were not genuine and that the gold was never delivered.
Prosecutors allege that the three accused; Frank David Kateti, Alain Mwadia Nvita Lukusa, and Daniel Oteno Ogot conspired with others not before the court to steal β¬2,168,238.91 (about KSh341.9 million) and USD 14,112 (about Ksh.2 million) from Asianic Ltd.
The accused are charged with conspiracy to commit a felony contrary to Section 393 of the Penal Code by falsely pretending they were in a position to sell 142 kilograms of gold.
In his testimony, the complainant described how he was repeatedly misled over the export of a purported 150 kilograms of gold. He said one of the accused brought documents to a hotel, including a mineral clearance certificate and a Turkish Airlines airway bill, and asked him to sign and place his thumbprint.
Although the airway bill suggested the consignment would leave on March 20, 2024, he later learned it was not genuine. When he followed up, he was told Turkish Airlines could not carry the full shipment and that only half could be sent, with the rest to be rerouted through Somalia Airlinesβan option he rejected.
On March 21, he was told the cargo would instead be flown to Italy, but this too failed. Days later, he received calls from a man identifying himself as diplomat Trevor Warren, who claimed the gold was being delivered via a UN charter. Warren later alleged there was a Congolese court order demanding USD 4.5 million, which prevented release of the consignment.
The complainant said the explanations did not make sense. By March 25, after further meetings with the accused, he concluded the defendants were not telling the truth and that the gold was not in Manila as they had claimed.
Β©Citizen Digital, Kenya
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- The documents provided by the accused were not genuine and that the gold was never delivered.
A complainant testifying virtually from Italy on Thursday told a Nairobi court how he was duped into a fraudulent gold deal involving a purported 150-kilogram gold consignment.
Dr .Satninder Singh said the suspects showed him certificates of ownership dated April 9, 2024, and a mineral export permit allegedly issued by the Mining Department on February 9, bearing his name and passport number. Although the men declined to hand him the documents, he managed to take photographs of them.
At Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), the complainant recounted, he was instructed to check in, proceed to the lounge, and wait for the supposed exporters.
βWe waited, but as departure time neared, they told us they were trying to sort out some issue,β he testified.
According to him, the men later claimed the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) had imposed a penalty of USD 1.62 million, and warned that unless it was paid within seven days, the gold would be confiscated.
He was told that once payment was made, the consignment would be cleared and exported within three days.
Despite expressing doubts, he said he was persuaded by one of the accused, identified as Frank, who assured him he would βtake responsibility.β A contract dated April 20 was later produced and sent to a lawyer named Mosota Associates and advocate for finalization.
The complainant testified that he insisted on seeing the original customs documents and direct communication from KRA regarding the alleged penalty. He was later taken to Forodha House, where he was introduced to a woman identified as Susan Oketch, allegedly a senior customs officer.
βShe had my file. Both Ogot and Kateti were there. The office was on the ground floor, and this Susan Oketch verified everything the gentlemen had told me, including the purported original documents,β he said. He later discovered that the woman was not, in fact, Oketch as she had identified herself.
On March 8, he wired over β¬256,000 and presented proof of payment at Mosota Associates Advocates. He testified that additional transfers were madeβincluding β¬13,000 and others amounting to more than β¬1 million (nearly Ksh. 150,380,000) in total.
The court heard that despite the payments, the documents provided by the accused were not genuine and that the gold was never delivered.
Prosecutors allege that the three accused; Frank David Kateti, Alain Mwadia Nvita Lukusa, and Daniel Oteno Ogot conspired with others not before the court to steal β¬2,168,238.91 (about KSh341.9 million) and USD 14,112 (about Ksh.2 million) from Asianic Ltd.
The accused are charged with conspiracy to commit a felony contrary to Section 393 of the Penal Code by falsely pretending they were in a position to sell 142 kilograms of gold.
In his testimony, the complainant described how he was repeatedly misled over the export of a purported 150 kilograms of gold. He said one of the accused brought documents to a hotel, including a mineral clearance certificate and a Turkish Airlines airway bill, and asked him to sign and place his thumbprint.
Although the airway bill suggested the consignment would leave on March 20, 2024, he later learned it was not genuine. When he followed up, he was told Turkish Airlines could not carry the full shipment and that only half could be sent, with the rest to be rerouted through Somalia Airlinesβan option he rejected.
On March 21, he was told the cargo would instead be flown to Italy, but this too failed. Days later, he received calls from a man identifying himself as diplomat Trevor Warren, who claimed the gold was being delivered via a UN charter. Warren later alleged there was a Congolese court order demanding USD 4.5 million, which prevented release of the consignment.
The complainant said the explanations did not make sense. By March 25, after further meetings with the accused, he concluded the defendants were not telling the truth and that the gold was not in Manila as they had claimed.
Β©Citizen Digital, Kenya
Continue reading...
