Ex DTB Branch Manager and Deputy Charged Over Ksh 149M Theft

A Diamond Trust Bank Branch manager has been charged before a Nairobi court with, among others, the offence of conspiracy to steal Ksh 149 million from the said bank.

Salimah Ameen Pirbhai and her deputy Aabid Alkarim Kassam, jointly with a junior employee, appeared before the Milimani Principal Magistrate Irene Thamara and were charged with 68 counts of conspiracy to steal, stealing by servants, money laundering, making false documents and uttering of false documents.

The Parklands branch manager was separately charged with stealing Ksh 39.5 million, the property of DTB.

She was charged that on June 4, 2025, at DTB Bank Parklands, she stole the said money, the property of the said bank.

In another count, while employed as an assistant branch manager, Kassam was charged with stealing Ksh 58.2 million from the DTB bank account belonging to Rozina Nurdin Patelia.

The duo were charged alongside Tazim Sidi Vassanji, where they were jointly charged with money laundering.

The court heard that Kassam fraudulently forged cash withdrawal slips for different amounts, purporting them to be prepared and signed by Rozina Patelia, the account holder.

The defence team pleaded with the court to release the accused persons on lenient bond terms, citing that they are not a flight risk and have been cooperating with investigators since last year.

The prosecution did not oppose their release but urged the court to release them with reasonable bond terms.

In determination, the Magistrate admitted all the accused persons on bond; Pirbhai and Vassanji were granted a bond of one million, while the Kassam was released with a bond of 2 million.

The matter will be mentioned on June 17 for pre-trial.