Three swindlers who conned an unsuspecting Kenyan Ksh3.8 million in a bogus mercury business deal have been arraigned before the Milimani Law Courts.
The complainant reported that, on December 13 last year she was introduced to the world of mercury trading by Joseph Mutua Maingi, a friend.
Promised handsome profits as Maingi posed as a close associate of one Godana Hamisi, a supposed dealer operating a lavish mercury exchange in Mombasa.
Two days later, the complainant travelled to Mombasa, where she met Godana.
He led her to a dimly lit room in Mtwapa, where she was ordered to lie on a mat and close her eyes. After a brief moment of confusion, she was handed a bottle, wrapped in a mysterious black and red cloth, claiming to contain mercury.
It was only after returning to Nairobi that reality hit home: the bottle contained no mercury at all. The dream deal had vanished like morning mist.
In the course of “securing the consignment,” the victim parted with Ksh3.8 million paid through M-Pesa and cash.
Following her report, detectives acted swiftly. The ring leader, Lewis Olemanyasi, aka Godana Hamisi, was apprehended in Kitui town, along with his accomplice, Iren Mueni Antony. A third suspect Maingi, was arrested in Kamulu.
Appearing before the court the suspects faced two counts of Obtaining money by false pretences and Conspiracy to defraud.
They all pleaded not guilty to both counts and were released on a cash bail of Sh500,000 and a Bond of Sh800,000. The case is set for a Pre-trial on February 19.
