Cleric in Court for Allegedly Defrauding Man in Mecca Pilgrimage Scam

A senior Imam has been charged at a Nairobi court with obtaining Ksh 774,000 by pretending to facilitate the complainant participating in a Muslim pilgrimage in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

Omar Athman Omar appeared before Milimani Chief Magistrate Lucas Onyina, where he was charged and denied the said offence.

He was charged that on the day between December 18 and 19, 2025,  at an unknown place within the Republic of Kenya, with intent to defraud, obtained the said money from Mohammed Salim Bahlewa by pretence.

The court heard that Omar lied to Bahlewa that he was in a position to facilitate his participation in a Muslim pilgrimage commonly known as Umrah at Mecca in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which was a false statement.

The defence lawyer pleaded with the court to release the accused person on lenient bond terms, citing that he is a Kenyan with family ties and many friends who know him due to his position.

“Your honour, my client is not a flight risk. He is a senior Imam in Kenya who is well known due to his position,” the lawyer told the court.

The lawyer told the court that Omar is a frequent traveller to Saudi Arabia for religious purposes. He informed the court that the accused travelled last year on December 9, 2025, and he was arrested at the airport during his return to the country.

He challenged the affidavit that was produced by the officer investigating the matter through the prosecution, urging the court to extend his detention by denying his release on bond, claiming that they are expecting more witnesses to record their statements and other offences to be reported.

They  also stated that there is a possibility of the witness’s interference, considering the position of the accused.

He informed the court that the accused travelled to Saudi Arabia on December 9, 2025, and the money subject to the matter was sent to him on December 18, 2025, when he was already in Mecca.

“He received the money when he had already travelled, and he could not assist the complainant to go while he was overtaken by the event,” the lawyer told the court.

The defence challenged and told the court to note the affidavit omission of the date when he travelled and when the money was sent.

They alleged that the accused could have failed to come back to the country if he had intentions to steal from the complainant.

The court heard that the accused was arrested at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) as if he were a terrorist during his return to the country, where he was not even allowed to take his belongings.

In seeking his release, the defence informed the court that the accused is a family man living in Malindi.

They asserted that there were no compelling reasons produced by the prosecution to deny him his rights to liberty.