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By Denis Wanyonyi
A case in which a Politician and businessman have been charged with obtaining Sh12.7 million in a fake gold deal have pushed to Wednesday this week.
Seth Steve Okute a politician Who unsuccessfully Contested for Karachuonyo Member of Parliament seat on an ODM ticket and Bruno Otieno Olienda are accused of obtaining USD100,000, which is equivalent to Sh12.7 million from Marjorie R Grant.
The case was adjourned after defense lawyers Karathe Wandugi failed to appear before Magistrate Susan Shitubi where the case was listed for the hearing of an application in which Steve wants his firearms back and Bruno wants his phone back.
Wandugi who is representing Bruno Otieno in the case failed to appear and the court was informed that he was held up in another court.
The defense requested for adjournment of the case to tomorrow but Shitubi set it for Wednesday.
The court heard that they committed the offence on November 9, 2022, at I&M Bank within Nairobi County with the intent to defraud.
They allegedly obtained the millions by falsely pretending that Newsky’s Global Cargo Movers International ltd were in a position to pay customs duties for 33 kilograms of gold shipped from Burkina Faso a fact they knew to be false.
Okute and Otieno Olienda are also charged with conspiracy to obtain Sh12,7 million from Marjorie by falsely pretending they were in a position to pay customs duties for 33 kilograms of gold shipped from Burkina Faso to Zurich a fact they knew was false.
The two have since denied the charges.They were granted a bond of Sh 2 million each with alternative cash bail of Sh 600,000 each. Upon payment of the cash bail, each will provide two contact persons as ordered by the court.
Olienda made an application for the police to release his three mobile phones and Mercedes Benz on grounds that they are not part of the case.
The investigating officer was summoned to appear in court and respond to the application.
