Five charged with conning trader out of Ksh300K in Embu

Five people have been charged with conning a trader out of Ksh.357,000 in Embu County.

The three women and two men were charged with swindling the trader at Kibugu Market in Embu North Sub-County.

They are accused of buying 100 gas cylinders from him using fake currency.

Baraza Njiru, Doris Njoki, Caroline Muthee, Daisy Wanja and Antony Muriithi were arraigned before chief Magistrate Maxwell Gicheru where they were charged with five different counts.

In the first count, they were charged that on the night of December 19 last year, while at Kathangari Market in Kibugu Town jointly with others not before the court they stole 100 gas cylinders filled with gas valued at Ksh.357,800, the property of Emilio Muriithi.

In the second charge, they were accused that on the night of December 19 last year, while at Embu Town they conspired with intent to defraud using their mobile phones.

They reportedly pretended that they were carrying out a genuine retail business of liquefied petroleum gas at Kathangari Market in Kibugu Town and that they were able to buy assorted 100 gas cylinders filled with liquified gas valued at Kenya Ksh.357,800, the property of Emilio Muriithi.

In the third count, Muriithi was charged alone that on the same day while at Kathangari Market within Embu County otherwise than in the course of stealing, being the driver of a lorry, he dishonestly removed 80 assorted gas cylinders valued at Ksh.297,800 knowing or having reasons to believe them to be stolen goods.

In the fourth count, Daisy Wanja was charged that she on December 20 last year, while at Embu Town without lawful authority or excuse knowingly had in her possession 300 papers intended to resemble Ksh.1000 note each that would be used to pay the gas.

They all denied the charges and sought to be released on bond and also be provided with copies of the charge sheet, prosecution witnesses’ statements, or any other document intended to be used against them.

The magistrate granted them Ksh.500,000 bond each and a surety of similar amount each and ordered that they be provided with copies of the charge sheet, prosecution witnesses statements and any other manuscript the prosecution was intending to use against them.

He fixed hearing of the case for January 15 this year before his court.