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Italians on fake Caterpillar machines charges to remain in custody

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ITALIANS CRISCUOLO GUISPE, CRISCUOLO AFREDO AND LOFFREDO ANTONIO AT A COURT IN NAIROBI YESTERDAY. PHOTO | PAUL WAWERU | NMG

Three Italian nationals who were on Monday charged with offenses relating to forgery and fraud after they were arrested while selling counterfeit Caterpillar equipment will remain in police custody.

Chief Magistrate Francis Andayi yesterday ruled that prosecution had proved beyond reasonable doubt that Mr Loffredo Antonio, Mr Criscuolo Alfredo and Mr Crisculo Guisepe were a flight risk.

The Magistrate therefore declined to heed to their lawyer’s request to have them released on bond pending their trial which is set to kick off soon after the General Elections are held.

“The accused persons’ request for bail is hereby denied and cannot be granted,” he ruled.

READ: Italians arrested for selling fake Caterpillar equipment

The Magistrate had consequently upheld arguments by the prosecution that the trio could not be trusted to attend court proceedings if released on bond since they had been arrested on their way to JKIA to catch a flight so as to travel out of the country.

Their passports have also been taken and are being held by the police. They were being detained at the Lang’ata police station while awaiting for the ruling of their request to be released on bond.

They were charged with making a document without authority, forgery, uttering a document with intent to defraud, being in possession of counterfeit goods for purpose of trade, selling counterfeit products and counterfeiting trademarks for Caterpillar Inc.

They allegedly committed the said offenses on various dates between June 22 and July 6.

Investigating Officer Musa Amakobe had testified before court that at the time of arrest, the trio was found with four packed bags filled with their belongings.

Mr Amakobe had disclosed that the three lie to unsuspecting potential clients that they were employees of the said company and that they usually make people believe that the products for sale are part of the items remaining from an exhibition held at the KICC.

They are accused of selling counterfeit generators, making a business catalogue booklet in the name of Caterpillar SARL Company while purporting it to be a genuine one and forging a Caterpillar Milton invoice.

The hearing of the case starts on August 10.