Three charged with defrauding the public over KDF recruitment

Kenya Defence Forces officer takes potential candidates through physical exercise at Gusii Stadium during a recruitment on December 5, 2018. [Photo, Standard]

Three men have been charged with 13 counts of defrauding the public after promising they will be recruited to join Kenya Defence Forces (KDF).

Andrew Musungu, Josephat Barasa and Reagan Shahenza were charged with conspiracy to defraud, impersonation, defrauding and forging KDF job Identity Cards (ID).

The three were jointly charged of defrauding Mary Ambona Sh733,830 on diverse dates between February and June 2018 by pretending they were in a position to recruit her daughter to be recruited to the military.

They were further accused of defrauding Joyce Amukuti Sh360,000 and Cleophas Omuchiti Sh144,650 promising to help their children get the slots.

The accused persons were on a fourth count of impersonating to be KDF officers with intent to defraud the three complainants and eventually stealing money from them.

Musungu, Barasa and Shahenza were further accused of making false and misleading KDF job IDs to show they work with the military, fact they knew was false.

They denied the charges when they appeared before Kakemaga Chief Magistrate Bildad Ochieng’.

State Counsel Paul Juma applied to have Musungu denied bond saying he has been charged in another case but absconded proceedings until he was arrested on the current offence.

He produced a sworn affidavit from the investigating officer Police Corporal Samuel Kamiti saying the accused is a flight risk and will

“The first accused is not a first time offender. He was charged in another criminal matter and was released on bond but absconded court appearance until he was arrested in this case on February 1. We are apprehensive that he is a flight risk and will continue committing the same offence,” said the investigating officer.

In his ruling, the magistrate said the fact he has absconded court proceedings in another court were not compelling enough to deny him bond terms.

“I have considered the submissions by the state counsel and those for the accused’s advocate. The fact that he has other matters pending court does not amount to compelling reasons. The prayer the prosecution would have made is having him released on stringent bond terms,” said the Magistrate.

He ordered Musungu to execute a million bond with two sureties of similar amount.

His co-accused were granted similar bond but with one surety each of likesome amount.

Their case shall be heard on May 9.