Safaricom boss Bob Collymore testifies in fraud case

Safaricom boss Bob Collymore yesterday testified in a case in which a woman is accused of fraudulently using his credit card.

Mr Collymore appeared before Milimani Resident Magistrate Edda Agade where he confirmed that he is the holder of the Barclays Bank Credit Card issued in 2010.

Esther Wanjiku Gichuru alias Alice Wagithi Ciuri is accused of using the VISA card with intent to defraud.

"I have been working at Safaricom since November 1, 2010, and I normally use the card for international expenses like hotels, local entertainment and meals together with shopping," said Collymore.

He added that he last used the card on April 20, 2011, at the Sankara Hotel in Westlands.

On April 30, 2011, he was called by Barclaycard and asked whether he had used it for purchases at Safaricom shops.

Collymore said they also asked him whether he had attempted to use it at a butchery in Hurlingarm. He confirmed that he had not used the card for such purposes.

"I was informed by my personal assistant that a suspect had been arrested and I was requested to record a statement," said Collymore.

Wanjiku is facing another count of uttering a false document contrary to the law. The court heard that she committed the offence on April 28, 2011 at a Safaricom retail shop at Nakumatt Mega in Nairobi.

She is said to have uttered a Barclays Bank Visa Card No 42639999 0105 8195 to Francline Shelr, a cashier at the said shop, purporting that it was genuine.

Hearing continues on March 9.