Champion athlete charged with stealing car

Former 5000m World Champion Daniel Kipng’etich Komen was on Monday arraigned at the Nairobi Milimani Law Courts before Resident Magistrate Christine Njagi, where he was charged with Ksh1.75million worth of motor vehicle fraud and forgery.

Komen, the current world record holder for the 3000 meters in both the outdoors (7:20.67 set in 1996) and indoors (7:24.90 set in 1998) category is facing seven counts of obtaining goods fraudulently and forgery of various documents pertaining to the sale of the motor vehicle.

It is alleged that in mid 2013 at the Nakumatt Junction Mall along Ngong Road, he approached Thomas Kamotho Getanguta with the intent of defrauding him so as to obtain a car valued at Ksh1.75m falsely.

Komen, who also holds the 2000m world record, was additionally charged with forging a cash acknowledgement letter of receipt to Cecelia Muthoni purporting it to be genuine.

The father of three is also said to have issued a bad cheque to Nicholas Odhiambo Juma three years ago on May 28, knowing that his account had insufficient funds.

The aspiring MCA for the Racecourse ward in Eldoret denied all the charges before Resident Magistrate Christine Njagi and was released on a cash bail of Ksh300, 000, which was later reviewed by trial magistrate Kennedy Cheruiyot after an application by his lawyer John Swaka. The case is scheduled for the 19th of next month.