Man tells magistrate he lost precious stones worth Sh10m

By Murimi Mwangi

A man narrated to a Nyeri court how his 50kg of Rubis (precious stones) valued at Sh10 million were stolen.

Mr David Kimani Ndung’u, a former manager at Sagana State Lodge, is accusing Simon Ngatia Gikonyo of stealing the stones on December 25, last year at his home in Nyeri.

Testifying before acting Resident Magistrate Christine Wekesa, Ndung’u said on the material date, he and his wife had left their home under the care of their caretaker indicating they would be away for nine days.

Ndung’u said he confirmed the stones were at the store before leaving the house. “I had wrapped the stones in a waterproof fabric and put them in a bucket. I told the caretaker to move the bucket to the store, which she did. Only my wife and I knew the contents of the bucket,” he said. However, upon returning home on January 3, he discovered the stones were missing.

“Even the caretaker told me she hadn’t taken the stones, so I reported the matter to the police station,” he said. The police apprehended the caretaker and took her to the Nyeri police headquarters.

“But when our neighbour was invited at the police station she told the police Gikonyo had slept in our house on December 25, when we were away,” Ndung’u recounted. The case continues on July 30.