Maria Wangare Kamunge, also known as Rish Kamunge, the Director of Trustpine Travel Agency, appeared in court today facing charges related to a job scam that has defrauded numerous Kenyans aspiring to work in Mauritius.
According to court documents, the scam involved promising lucrative job placements abroad, with victims reportedly paying between Sh200,000 and Sh400,000 each in exchange for employment opportunities that never materialized. Investigations have confirmed that a total of 43 individuals lost Sh12.9 million to the fraudulent scheme.
Several victims claim that, after making the payments, they were led to travel to Mauritius only to find themselves stranded at the airport without any form of assistance. Many of these hopeful job seekers were ultimately deported back to Kenya, leaving them not only financially damaged but also emotionally distraught.
Rish Kamunge was arraigned on charges that include fraud and misrepresentation. During the hearing at the Capital Hill Police Station, she was remanded pending further investigations and the issuance of custodial orders. The court also set the next mention of the case for later today, as authorities continue to compile evidence against the suspect.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has urged anyone who believes they might have fallen victim to this scam to report their experiences at the Central Police Station in Nairobi. Officials stress that coming forward could be crucial in securing additional evidence and potentially recovering some of the lost funds.
As the investigation unfolds, authorities are working to identify any further accomplices involved in the scam, while legal experts predict that the case could have wider implications for agencies involved in overseas job placement schemes.
The ongoing probe serves as a stark reminder for job seekers to exercise caution and thoroughly verify the legitimacy of employment offers, especially when international travel and upfront payments are involved.
