For Sh150,000 businessman forged his death certificate, disappeared for three years

A Kitui man recently recounted in court how the investigating officer coached him to disappear.

He explained how the officer helped him fake his death, got him a death certificate  to escape a sexual offence trial. 

Dennis Ndema Kathumo, 33, was re-arrested after hiding for three years putting his trial on hold.

He had been accused of sodomising two boys aged 11 and 12 years on diverse dates between June 12 and 19 in 2016.

Two years later, Ndema’s relative who stood for his surety, went to claim his title deed after he was informed the accused was dead.

The death certificate presented in court indicated he had died on April, 16, 2018 due to perforated peptic typhoid.

Also read:https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/entertainment/local-news/2001319127/man-fakes-death-for-wife-to-get-insurance

The registrar of persons confirmed that the death certificate did not originate from their office, leading to further investigation where Ndema was tracked and re-arrested on March 27 along Mombasa Road. 

He was lured by the investigating officer Anthony Ngatia, who promised 'to help' because the minors had 'fixed him.'

Unsuspecting Ndema was arrested and presented before Makadara Principal Magistrate Eva Kanyiri.

“The officer directed me to go to his area sub-chief in Kivani sub location Katutu location in Kitui County to get a burial permit. I never gave the chief any money. I gave the officer a sum of Sh150,000.

“He then coached me to switch off my phone and get a new line and ask me to go away and that if he ever sees me around, I will be charged with a similar offence,” he said.