Three men Harish Ramji Manji, Ashvin Ramji Manji, and Bharat Ramji Manji were expected to take plea today in a high-value land fraud case involving a 3.043-hectare parcel belonging to the National Social Security Fund (NSSF), but the proceedings stalled after the court was informed of an existing Court of Appeal order temporarily halting their arrest and prosecution.
The prosecution told the court that the trio faces multiple charges including conspiracy to defraud NSSF of land valued at about KSh 350 million. They are accused of forging transfer documents and a Certificate of Title, allegedly making it appear as though the documents were lawfully executed by the NSSF Board of Trustees and the Ministry of Lands.
According to the charge sheet, the men face counts of making a false document contrary to Sections 347(a) and 349 of the Penal Code, forgery under Sections 345 and 349, and obtaining registration by false pretence contrary to Section 320.
However, plea taking did not proceed after the defence revealed that the accused are already facing “word-for-word identical” charges before another magistrate, Magistrate Ekhubi, in a related matter. The defence added that the case is set for mention on Monday before Magistrate Ekhubi to confirm the validity and scope of the Court of Appeal’s stay.
The court was informed that the appellate court issued orders staying the arrest, investigations, and prosecution of the three men in the ongoing dispute.
In view of these revelations, the magistrate postponed the plea taking to next Monday, pending clarification on the status of the Court of Appeal ruling and the related proceedings before the other court.
