Two businessmen have been charged with defrauding a United Kingdom national of over Ksh 223 million in a fake gold scam involving 2,820 kilograms of non-existent gold. Emmanuel Wafula Othatcher and Willy Kiplmo Meto, alongside their companies, Unaidisa Service Limited and Indipth Mining Limited, appeared before Milimani Chief Magistrate Lucas Onyina, where they denied the charges.
The prosecution claims that between March 31 and May 30, 2024, the accused parties fraudulently obtained a total of USD 1,271,200.74, equivalent to approximately Ksh 223,756,000, from Tanner Caldwell Cook by falsely pretending that they would sell him the gold.
The charges further allege that the two businessmen, together with others not yet before the court, conspired to steal the funds by deceiving Caldwell into believing he was purchasing a legitimate gold transaction.
The accused were granted bail, with each posted a bond of Ksh 2 million, pending the hearing and determination of the case. Magistrate Onyina has scheduled the next mention for January 24, when the case will be consolidated with another similar matter currently before the court.
