Duo Charged in Ksh 15 Million Binance Scam at Serena Hotel
They denied the charges and applied for their release through their defence lawyer saying they were willing to comply with the rules to be set by the court.
A Central African Republic national and a Kenyan university student has been charged at a Nairobi court with obtaining Ksh 15 million by false pretences.
Jesus Godoua Imedii and Judith Mbatha Nzioka appeared before the Milimani Principal Magistrate Caroline Nyaguthii facing the offences of obtaining money by pretences and conspiracy to defraud.
The offence took place at Serena Hotel in Nairobi.
The prosecution told the court that on April 30, 2025, at Serena Hotel, in Nairobi within Nairobi county jointly with others who were not before the court obtained Ksh 15,360,000 Tuyishime Grace by falsely pretending to be in a position to assist her in trading in Binance a fact they knew to be false.
In the second count, the court heard that the duo conspired to obtain the said money by pretending to assist Tuyishime in investing in Binance and making a profit which was a false fact.
They denied the charges and applied for their release through their defence lawyer saying they were willing to comply with the rules to be set by the court.
The prosecution urged the court to deny the accused persons bail saying the accused place of abode is not known and releasing them at this stage there is the possibility of absconding.
Through the affidavit filed by Beth Kariuki, the officer investigating the matter prayed the accused persons be denied bond,
“Your honor I pray the accused persons be denied bond considering their places of abode is not known and they might abscond if released at this stage,” Kariuki submitted.
She added that Imedii is a foreigner holding three passports and is versed in criminal activities and he might interfere with witnesses.
The defence counsel objected to the application citing that the accused persons have been in custody for the last 18 days and their rights to fair trial have already been infringed,
“Your honor I pray the accused persons be granted bail and bond terms to secure their freedom and they will comply with the rules to be set by this court,” he urged.
He urged the court to consider the criminal principle of the law that the duo are presumed innocent until proven otherwise and not to treat them as convicts.
The lawyer added that Imedii had already deposited his passport to the police and there is no way he can escape the court’s jurisdiction.
Further, he indicated that Nzioka is a Kenyan student from the University of Nairobi who resides in the Athi River.
In her ruling, the magistrate ordered the two be detained at Kilimani Police Station until Thursday, May 28, when she will deliver a ruling on their bail application.
