A rogue pastor from Kiambu county has been charged in a Nairobi court with obtaining Ksh 16 million by false pretences.
Joseph Kabuya Thinwa from Turnpoint Church Riabai chapel in Kiambu appeared before the Milimani senior principal magistrate Dolphina Alego facing the charge of obtaining money by false pretences contrary to section 313 of the Penal Code.
The prosecution told the court that on diverse dates between February 1, and August 31, 2021at Silverline Motors Kenya Limited offices within Nairobi county jointly with others who were not in court, with intent to defraud obtained Sh 16,168,750 from Silverline Motors Company Limited by falsely pretending he was in a position to import motor vehicles for clients a fact he knew to be false.
In the second count, the court was told that Thinwa being the employee of Silverline Motors Company Limited as import manager, stole the said money from the company which came to his possession by virtue of his employment.
He denied the charges levelled against him by the prosecution.
State prosecutor James Gachoka did not oppose his release on bond but prayed for stringent terms because the accused has other similar cases in the same court where he is out on bond,
“Your honour I pray this court to put stringent terms while releasing the accused person since he has other three similar matters pending in this court where he is out on bond,” Gachoka prayed.
His lawyer urged the court to dismiss the prayers by the prosecution citing that bail is a constitutional right which is given to make sure the accused appears in court for trials.
He admitted the fact that his client has other three matters pending in court but he told the court that he has not absconded in the matters,
“Your honour despite my client having other similar matters before this court, the state counsel did not prove that he has absconded,” he said.
In her brief ruling, the magistrate released him on a bond of Sh 1 million with a surety of a similar amount or alternative cash bail of Sh 500,000 with a contact person.
The magistrate further ordered the accused person to deposit his passport in court.
The matter will be mentioned on February 5, 2025, for pre-trial and directions.
Preliminary Investigations have disclosed that Thinwa is a serial fraudster where our research led to Kiambu magistrate court where he has another matter of fraud pending and is out on bond.
According to the documents seen by our reporter, Thinwa is charged with obtaining money by false pretences contrary to the law.
He was charged that on diverse dates between October 28, 2022, and February 14, 2023, obtained Sh 1,225,000 from Ian Mwenda Micheni by falsely pretending he was in a position to import a motor vehicle made X-Trail, black in colour a fact he knew was false.
He is out in bond in the matter.