A woman in Nairobi's Embakasi area has been arraigned for allegedly defrauding unsuspecting people of Sh1.2 million through various WhatsApp groups using a Facebook link.
Njoki, who goes by the alias Kate wa Gladys on Facebook, being the director of Cate wa Gladys Company Limited with intent to defraud, allegedly obtained Sh310,000 from Monicah Wanjiku Mwangi on diverse dates between April 6 and April 30 by falsely pretending that she was in a position to sell her land in Nanyuki.
On the second count, Njoki, jointly with others, allegedly obtained Sh110,000 from Alice Kalekye Mutua on diverse dates between June 11 and August 17 pretending that she was in a position to return her money upon maturity.
The court was also told that Njoki obtained Sh800,000 from Jackeline Ivan Olet on diverse dates between January 21 and May 15 on the grounds that she would sell her a car, a fact she knew to be false.
According to the investigation, Njoki's Facebook account had links that led to a WhatsApp group in which the accused was the administrator. The account name later mutated to 'Millionaire Investors', a chamaa for buying cheap cars, and savings chamaa, among other groups.
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The three complainants claimed they were similarly duped into joining the group to save to buy land, a car and grow the money but ended up becoming a debt.
The victims said they remitted their deposits into an account number belonging to Njoki but efforts to reach her to get the promised land and car proved futile.
Wanjiku reported the matter to the police who arrested Njoki and it is then that more victims discovered they had been conned. This prompted Olet and Kalekye to also seek the help of the police.
In court, Njoki denied the charges and, through her lawyer, held that the second count was defective since the date of maturity was not indicated. But the prosecution told the court that more people have come forward to level similar accusations against Njoki and more charges against her were pending.
It further held that claims that the charge was defective will be canvassed during the full hearing.
Makadara Chief Magistrate Francis Kyambia granted Njoki a bond of Sh800,000 pending a hearing on February 2 next year.