Four to be charged afresh in Sh944m land fraud

Four people facing a fraud case over a property worth Sh944 million in Nairobi’s Donholm area will be charged afresh after the prosecution sought to consolidate the cases.

The prosecution told chief magistrate Francis Andayi that the cases against Alexander Hoops Shihemi, a former chief and officials of a self-help group Peter Gitau Muiruri, Peter Njoroge and Patroba Odoyo Awino will be consolidated, because it relates to the same land and documents.

The case however, could not proceed yesterday after one of the accused persons, Mr Odoyo reportedly fell sick. His lawyer told Mr Andayi that he was diagnosed with Covid-19 and was recovering at home.

The four are facing six counts including conspiracy to defraud, forging an allotment letter, a lease, and a title deed.

One of the charges stated that with intent to defraud Ms Gidjoy Investments Ltd of 11.8 acres of land in Donholm, the four made false allotment letter purporting it to be genuine and issued by a land administration officer.

They are also accused of forging a lease purportedly signed by Rosemary Anyango Ngong’a, a Land Registrar. They allegedly committed the offence on November 28, 2001.

Last year, Mr Odoyo tried to block charges against him but the case was dismissed by Justice James Makau after he failed to prosecute the case.

While dismissing it, Justice Makau noted that the last time Mr odoyo was in court was in June 2019 and he never turned up to argue his case.

The former chief and officials of Sowesava self-help group are accused of conspiring to grab approximately 11.8 acres situated at Donholm phase 8, alleging that they were squatters and had lived on the disputed land for over 30 years.