What started as a plan to expand a Rwandese based financial tech firm in Kenya has led to a businessman being charged with conspiring to defraud the company Sh400 million.
Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations have been on the hunt for Kirimi Koome since last month.
His phone according to the investigating team was always off and his residence remained a mystery
What was left for the sleuths was to serve his advocate Samson Nyaberi with summons through WhatsApp.
The officers required Koome to appear at DCI office for questioning over allegations of stealing, conspiracy to defraud and fraudulent disposal of trust property.
But Koome was a no show. This prompted a Magistrates Court in Milimani to issue a warrant of arrest.
The warrant was also based on an application by lawyer Danstan Omari and state prosecutor James Gachoka.
The duo argued that the interests of investors needed safeguarding.
Omari represents the complainant, one Desire Muhinyuza who is the CEO and Co founder of Stay Online Limited Rwanda.
On Tuesday, Koome appeared in court after he was arrested at an Air BnB in Westalnds on October 11.
He was charged with conspiring to defraud Muhinyuza $2,619,583.27, being merchants funds by falsely representing himself as the owner of the said funds.
The said offence is said to have been committed on diverse dates between July 10 and October 4, 2023, within Nairobi county, jointly with others not before court and with intent to defraud.
Koome further faced a charge of stealing $100,000 (Sh 14,945,000) property of Stay Online Limited.
The monies had allegedly been entrusted to him to make payment of provision of taxes for the said company.
In addition, he is facing charges of making a false entry in a document for payment of $100,000 to his USD Account No. 1040184365654 domiciled at Equity Bank and giving false information to the police.
Koome denied all charges before Chief Magistrate Lucas Onyina.
Prior to him being arraigned, the police had made a separate application seeking to freeze the withdrawal and payments from accounts in the name of the financial tech firm based at United Bank of Africa.
The officers in making that application were apprehensive that the said Koome and his conspirators may fraudulently interfere with the said funds. That order was granted.
Koome who managed to secure his release on bail terms of shs 500,000 will be back in court on October 23.
