Six charged for 'stealing' millions from banks

By WAHOME THUKU

Police are investigating a syndicate in which more than Sh100 million was allegedly stolen from two local banks on the same day.

Six people have been charged in connection with the incident involving Fina Bank and Eco-Bank.

They are businessman Don Bosco Ooga Gichana, his two relatives Obadia Gichana and Moraa Gichana and Nairobi lawyer Albert Simiyu Kuloba.

Albert Simiyu Kuloba (left), Don Bosco Ooga (centre) and Graham Rioba Sagwe at a Nairobi Law Court on Thursday. They were charged with stealing more than Sh100 million from Fina Bank and EcoBank. [PHOTO: EVANS HABIL/STANDARD]

Others are Graham Rioba Sagwe and Robert Museti Onkwani.

Police claim Sh96,759,540 was stolen at Fina Bank’s Ngong Road branch on Monday last week and a similar amount stolen from Eco-Bank Towers, Nairobi early last week.

They have charged Rioba and Don Bosco with the theft at Fina Bank while Obadia and Moraa were charged with stealing from Eco-Bank.

Rioba and Don Bosco faced another count of conspiring to defraud Garden Real Estate Development of a similar amount of money. They were accused of having committed the offence at an unknown place on November 12.

Bosco faced a separate count of stealing Sh8 million belonging to Fina Bank last week at the Barclays Bank’s Westland branch. Lawyer Simiyu was charged with stealing Sh10 million from Fina Bank on the same day. He was accused of having committed the offence at Commercial Bank of Africa’s Wabera Street branch.

Moseti, whose whereabouts has not been established, was charged with stealing Sh9 million from Fina Bank at the Barclays Bank’s Development House branch.

Police say the offences were committed in conjunction with other suspects still at large. Prosecution told Nairobi Chief Magistrate Gilbert Mutembei: "The money is in peoples pockets and they may decide to go and live well outside the country".

Only Rioba, Don Bosco and Simiyu were present in court. They had been held to enable police conclude investigations. Obadia and Moraa were said to be out of the country. Their lawyer said they had been informed of the charges by a relative and would return to the country this week.

A warrant for their arrest that had been issued by the court was suspended to allow the lawyer produce them in court on Monday. Defence lawyer Albert Khaminwa pleaded for the release of Simiyu on free bond, saying he could not abscond.

Rioba and Don Bosco were released on Sh2 million cash bail each while Simiyu was released on Sh300,000. Hearing is set for January 4.